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ADDRESS, 

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HEALTH in the POULTRY YARD, 



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FANNY'FIELD, 

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ADDRESS, 

R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 



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Copyright, 1886, by R. B. Mitchell. 




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In offering this work to the poultry world we do not pre- 
tend that we possess absolute and supreme knowledge concerning 
the causes and cure of poultry diseases ; we do not set ourselves 
up as authorities ; we only give in a condensed and convenient 
form the results of our own experiments, study, and observation 
in regard to the cause, prevention, and cure of poultry diseases. 

FANNY FIELD. 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD. 

By FANNY FIELD. 



CONCERNING THE CAUSES OF DISEASE AMONG POULTRY. . 

Poultry diseases never come by chance. Fowls never "just happen" to 
have roup, cholera, or any other ill; there is always a cause somewhere, and as 
it is almost useless to dose sick fowls with medicine while the conditions which 
produced" the disease remain unchanged, the poultry keeper should, in all cases 
of sickness among his fowls, first ascertain and remove the cause. 

One of the chief causes of sickness and death among poultry is filth; it 
may be in the air, or in the food or drink; but in whatever form filth is taken 
into the system it is almost certain to cause disease. The germs of some poultry 
diseases are probably generated by filth, and all cases of sickness among fowls 
are certainly aggravated by filthy surroundings. 

Dampness in poultry houses is another cause of many serious diseases. It 
does not hurt fowls to run about in the rain, provided they have a dry place to 
go to when they desire shelter; but it does hurt them to roost or be closely con- 
fined in a house that is "most always" damp; and continual dampness in 
chicken coops kills off more little chicks than any other half-dozen causes com- 
bined. The poultry raiser who keeps fowls and chicks in damp houses and 
coops will have to fight roup, canker, colds, cramps, rheumatism, consumption, 
and many other ills " too numerous to mention." 

Roosting in draughts is another direct cause of disease. Fowls that roost 
out of doors, where the air strikes them all over alike, rarely "take cold;" it is 
the current of air that comes through the broken window or crack in the wall 
and strikes the fowls in a one-sided sort of way, that causes the colds which often 
develop into more serious ills. 

Lice are frequently the sole cause of the untimely "taking off" of whole 



i) HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD— BY FANNY FIELD. 

broods of downy little chicks; and, while they may not actually cause disease 
among older fowls, it is quite certajn that fowls whose strength has been lowered 
by the constant attacks of hordes of lice are the first victims of any poultry 
disease that comes along. 

Lack of exercise is a frequent cause of disease among fowls that are closely 
confined to the limits of houses and small yards. It is also one reason why so 
many brooder-mothered chicks fail up in the legs and die. 

Lack of vigor on the part of the parent stock is another cause of sickness 
and death in the poultry yard. " Like begets like," and chicks from unhealthy 
stock are generally weakly and fall easy victims to diseases that the systems of 
stronger chickens would resist and overcome. 

Strange fowls often introduce disease into a healthy flock. Many an 
outbreak of roup or cholera which the poultry-keeper was utterly at a loss to 
account for, might have been traced back to the "new rooster," or the half- 
dozen hens that were bought and at once turned loose among the other fowls. 

Improper food, over-feeding and under-feeding are also directly responsible 
for many of the ills that afflict chicken flesh. 

HOW TO PREVENT DISEASE. 

Since sickness among poultry is, in the majority of cases, but the natural 
result of carelessness, neglect and general mismanagement, the poultry-keeper 
can, by taking thought and doing a little extra work at the right time, prevent 
disease from gaining a foothold among his flocks; and let me tell you that pre- 
vention is better than cure, and it is about fifty percent, cheaper and easier than 
doctoring fowls after they are sick. 

But I do not advise you to "dose" your fowls continually with something 
to "keep them well." If your fowls are so "weakly like" that they cannot keep 
in good health without swallowing a quarter's worth of pills or powders every 
week, better let them die and have done with it. Long experience in the care 
of poultry has convinced me that proper food and care, together with strict 
attention to the sanitary conditions of the house and surroundings, will almost 
banish disease from the poultry yard. I have kept fowls in good health from 
the time when they left the shell until they were killed for market without 
administering one drop of medicine; and I can assure you that if the preventive 
measures which I here recommend are faithfully followed you will seldom have 
occasion to refer to the cure part of this book. 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD— BY FANNY FIELD. 7 

1. Guard against dampness in the poultry houses and chicken coops as you 
would against a pestilence. If the place selected for the poultry-house be not 
well drained naturally, drain it artificially, and always place the coops for little 
chicks on the dryest spot of ground at your command. 

2. See that the poultry-house and chiccken coops are thoroughly ventilated, 
without exposing the occupants to the danger of sleeping in draughts of air. 

3. Keep the poultry-house, the yards and everything about the premises 
occupied by the fowls, clean. Allow no stagnant water, no decayed or decaying 
animal or vegetable matter, no filth of any kind anywhere about the premises. 
Every morning sprinkle some absorbent — dry earth or land plaster— over the 
droppings under the roost, and as often as once a week remove the droppings 
from the house. Every spring and fall, and once at least in mid-summer 
(oftener when poultry diseases are prevalent in your immediate neighborhood), 
whitewash the inside of the house thoroughly. When contagious disease is 
present among your flock, or among those of near neighbors, use some disin- 
fectant daily about the houses, yards, and all places much frequented by the 
fowls, until all danger is past. One of the best disinfectants is prepared by 
adding 2 ounces of carbolic acid to three quarts of water. Sprinkle about by 
means of a common watering pot with a fine nozzle. Another disinfectant is 
made by dissolving three pounds of copperas in five gallons of water, and then 
adding half a pint of crude carbolic acid. 

When the fowls are confined to yards a portion of the yard should be 
spaded or ploughed up every week during warm weather; and even when they 
run at large the place where they are in the habit of loafing should be purified 
by an occasional spading and an application of lime or ashes. 

When the fowls roost out of doors in warm weather the droppings should 
be removed, the ground spaded, and fresh earth thrown on often enough to 
prevent the intolerable stench that arises from neglected outdoor roosting 
places. 

Chicken coops should be cleaned and whitewashed whenever a new family 
of chicks are moved in, and they must be moved and the droppings scraped 
away often enough to prevent foul odors. After each cleaning sprinkle the 
ground with a handful of air-slaked lime, and then throw on a shovelful of 
sand, gravel, or dry earth before the coop is moved back. 

4. Keep fowls and chicks free from lice. 

5. Avoid over-crowding. 



8 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

6. Feed only fresh, wholesome food, and let it be sufficient in quantity to 
keep the fowls in good condition. Semi-starvation and over-feeding should 
alike be avoided. Keep pure water where the fowls can have it at all times, 
and always keep a supply of gravel, charcoal, and crushed oyster shells, or 
lime in some shape, where they can help themselves. 

7. Never breed from unhealthy fowls, or from fowls that seem ' ' weakly 
like;" and especially would I advise you to avoid breeding from fowls that 
have seemingly recovered from a severe attack of roup. 

8. Have some building apart from the general quarters where sick fowls 
can be confined and treated away from the rest of the flock. After this place 
has been used for fowls afflicted with any contagious disease it should be 
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 

9. When strange fowls are brought upon the premises, no matter if they 
come from the yards of the "best breeders," keep them apart from the rest of 
the flock until you are sure they are free from disease. 

10. When fowls are confined to the limits of the house and a small yard 
contrive "ways and means" to make them scratch for exercise. Keep them 
busy. Satan finds mischief for idle fowls as well as for idle human beings. 

11. When fowls mope about, eat but little, and act about half-sick without 
any apparent cause, cut down the allowance of food, and once a day, until they 
are better, give Douglass Mixture, or a few drops of tincture of iron in the drink. 

Whitewash. Right here seems to be the right place to remark that the 
value of lime as a preventive is not generally appreciated by poultry-keepers. 
And I do not wonder, for not one poultry-keeper in twenty uses it in a way to 
make it effective. They whitewash the poultry-house, but the work is not half 
done, and for all the good a half-way application of whitewash does the work 
might about as well be left undone. 

Here is a good way to prepare and use whitewash: Fix a half-barrel of 
wash about the thickness of paint; then stir into it three or four pounds of 
sulphur, and to every pailful used add a tablespoonful of carbolic acid. 
Apply this mixture to every part of the house except the roosting-perches, 
and be sure and put it on and in with a good brush and plenty of muscle, so 
that it will get into all cracks and rough places. When this mixture is 
thoroughly used in houses and coops, lice and gape worms will have but a poor 
chance for their lives. 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD —BY I AN.W FIELD. (J 

CONCERNING THE CURE OF POULTRY DISEASES. 

Notwithstanding the fact that I am writing a book on poultry diseases, for 
whicli I expect you to pay a quarter (for the book, not the diseases), I do not 
hesitate to tell you that doctoring fowls or chicks after they are really "down 
sick " is, generally speaking, rather discouraging work; at least I have found 
it so. Often it costs more in time and medicine to cure a sick fowl than it is 
worth after it is cured, and it is my candid opinion that in nine cases out of ten 
when sickness appears among fowls it would be better for the fowls and cheaper 
for the owner if the hatchet were used in the first place; but in the tenth case a 
little "timely knowledge" concerning the symptoms of disease and the proper 
remedies to be administered will enable the poultry-keeper to save the life of a 
valuable fowl. 

When disease appears don't wait until tomorrow to see if it will "wear off/' 
but at once search out and remove the cause, and administer the proper reme- 
dies to the sick fowls before they get beyond all hope of a cure. A little care 
and medicine to-day may cure a fowl that would surely die if neglected until 
to-morrow. "Procrastination is the thief of time" and the death of sick fowls. 

Don't expect to cure every case; if you do you will probably be disap- 
pointed. 

Don't pin your faith very fast to any of the so-called "sure cures" so exten- 
sively advertised to cure every poultry ail under the sun. Some of these 
preparations are good for some things, but most of them are nearly worthless. 
There is no such thing as a "cure-all" or specific for all poultry diseases. The 
remedies prescribed in this book are the ones that have proved most successful, 
and will cure whenever a cure is possible. 

CHICKEN CHOLERA. 

Cause. — The disease known as chicken cholera is the most contagious and 
rapidly fatal of all poultry diseases, and every year its victims are counted by 
thousands. It is more dreaded by the poultry raisers of the West and South 
than all others put together. It attacks turkeys as well as chickens. It is 
caused by a microscopic organism or germ which is taken into the fowl's system 
with the food and drink, and possibly by inhalation; anyway that is what the 
"distinguished scientists" who have studied up the subject of contagious dis- 
eases tell us. This germ, or cholera poison, affects the blood first, then the 
liver, and thus the whole digestive apparatus is affected. Where these germs 



10 health in the poultry yard— by fanny field. 

come from in the first place is something that the scientists have not yet told 
us. Possibly they don't know, I am sure I don't; but I believe they are gene- 
rated by filth in some form, and that when the disease is not brought into a 
flock by strange fowls the original cause may be found on the premises or on 
those of a near neighbor. 

As an argument against the supposition that the disease is caused by filth, 
some poultry writers have cited cases where fowls that ran at large and roosted 
in the tree- tops were attacked with cholera. But that proves nothing, for the 
fowls might have had access to impure water and filthy food; and besides, when 
fowls roost in trees they have a regular roosting place, and unless the ground 
beneath the tree is scraped and spaded up occasionally the air for some distance 
around will soon be tainted with the disagreeable odor arrising from the accu- 
mulated droppings. In damp or wet weather the stench around these neglected 
ro'osting places is almost unendurable. Upon this subject A. J. Hill, in his 
"Treatise on Chicken Cholera," says: "I have sufficient evidence to warrant 
me' in saying that the cause is local. Wherever the disease prevails, right there 
its cause exists; and there is the place where its cause was generated, unless 
infectious matter had been introduced by disseased fowls or otherwise." 

Prevention. — But whether the germs of chicken cholera just grew out of 
filth or not, the disease can be almost entirely prevented by perfect cleanliness 
and the free use of disinfectants. All the "authorities" agree upon that point. 
I have never known a case of chicken cholera among fowls that were kept on 
well drained land and properly cared for in other respects, unless the disease 
was first introduced by strange fowls, or from the premises of near neighbors 
whose fowls were afflicted with cholera. I know one woman who kept poultry 
seven years in a locality where cholera prevailed every year, but although her 
neighbors' fowls died by dozens hers always escaped, and she attributed their 
immunity from disease solely to the sanitary precautions she always insisted 
upon. Follow the instructions in regard to cleanliness, use of disinfectants, etc., 
which I have given under the heading " How to Prevent Disease," and when 
the cholera prevails among the flocks of your immediate neighbors give your 
fowls pulverized charcoal (tablespoonful to a pint of food) three or four times a 
week, and once in every two or three days add five drops of carbolic acid to a 
quart of water, and use it to mix their food with. Also give the Douglass Mix- 
ture daily in the drink until after the disease has disappeared from the neigh- 
borhood. The charcoal purifies the digestive organs and aids digestion; the 
Douglass Mixture acts as a tonic; and the carbolic acid kills the cholera poison. 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD—BY FANNY FIELD. 11 

Symptoms. The usual symptoms of cholera in fowls are thus described by 
A. J. Hill: 

"The fowl has a dejected, sleepy and drooping appearance, and does not 
plume itself; is very thirsty, gapes often, and sometimes staggers and falls from 
weakness. Comb and wattles lose their natural color, generally turning pale, 
but sometimes dark. There is diarrhoea, with greenish discharge, or like sulphur 
and water; afterwards thin and frothy. Prostration ensues, the crop fills with 
mucous and wind, the breathing is heavy and fast, the eyes close, and in a few 
hours the fowl dies." 

The symptoms vary somewhat in different fowls, but the peculiar color ol 
the discharge and their frequency always tell the. story. Sometimes fowls will 
live several days after the diarrhoea commences; then again, fowls that are 
apparently in good health one day will be dead the next. 

Is Cholera contagious? Opinions are divided upon this subject. Eminent 
poultry breeders who have had experience with the disease claim that it is 
contagious, and others equally eminent claim that it is not. The safest way in 
dealing with cholera, is to assume that it is contagious, and act accordingly. 
If one makes mistakes, it is always best to make them on the right side. 

Treatment. — We have wrestled with chicken cholera upon several occa- 
sions. We have bought more than one "Treatise" upon the subject. We 
have tried a goodly number of the so-called '• sure cures" for chicken cholera, 
but we have not yet found any cure that can be depended upon to cure in all or 
even in a majority of cases, and we don't believe that anybody else has found 
one, either. Most of the "cholera pills," powders, etc., that are recommended 
as sure to cure chicken cholera are utterly worthless. There is no doubt but 
people who recommend these remedies do so in good faith, but there is a mis- 
take somewhere, for the same remedies that they claim to have used successfully 
failed when tried by others. 

The cheapest, quickest and best way to deal with chicken cholera when it 
makes its appearance among a flock is to kill the sick fowls at once, and burn 
their " remains," or else bury them very deep with a quantity of quick lime ; 
then, no matter how much you have already done in the way of cleaning up, 
have a general and thorough cleaning and disinfecting of houses, yards and all 
places where the fowls are in the habit of congregating. After cleaning the 
house, shut it up as close as possible, put a pound of sulphur in an old iron 

lc, pour en a half-pint of alcohol, set it in the house where you can reach it 



12 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD--BY FANNY FIELD. 

from the door, hold your nose with one hand, set fire to the alcohol, shut the 
door and leave. The burning sulphur and alcohol will send off sulphurous acid 
gas, which will kill every living thing, invisible germs included. Wherever the 
sick fowls have left their droppings wet the ground thoroughly with the cop- 
peras and acid disinfecting fluid, and scatter lime freely. Use the disinfectant 
daily and freely as long as the cholera remains on the premises. 

To counteract the effects of the cholera germs that may be lurking in the 
systems of your apparently well fowls, give them the carbolic acid, pulverized 
charcoal, and Douglas Mixture as recommended under the head of " Pre- 
vention." Nine times out of ten this course of treatment will stamp out the 
disease at once, and you will lose but few fowls ; but if your first onslaught 
does not have the desired effect, keep right on with the same method and it will 
finally conquer. 

If instead of killing the sick fowls you desire to try your hand at doc- 
toring them, separate them from the well ones and try some of the following 
remedies : 

i. Calomel and blue mass in two grain doses, or four grains of blue mass 
mixed with two grains each of gum camphor and cayenne pepper may be 
given twice a day. 

2. Two drachms of calomel mixed with one quart of corn meal ; feed twice 
a day. 

3. Powdered chalk, powdered charcoal, gum camphor, assafoetida and 
pure carbolic acid equal parts ; mix all together and feed in the proportion of 
one teaspoonful to every 10 fowls. Give in tne food twice a day. 

4. Powdered garlic one ounce, extract of rhubarb half an ounce, tincture 
of capsicum two drachms, tincture of camphor two drachms, tincture of opium 
one drachm, tincture of oil of peppermint three drachms ; mix well. Dose : 
Six drops in a teaspoonful of water, three times a day. 

5. Fowler's solution one ounce, aqua ammonia one-half ounce, water one 
gallon; mix. Give this to the fowls to drink. 

6. Hyposulphate of soda, half a level teaspoonful in as much water as will 
dissolve it. Give once a day for three days. 

7. Equal parts of assafoetida, hypophosphate ot saffron and soda ground 
together. Mix in soft food in proportion of teaspoonful to every ten fowls. 

With all these remedies give Douglass Mixture in the drink, and feed only 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD— DY FANNY FIELD. 13 

soft, easily digested food. Don't use any powerful astringent medicines to 
check diarrhoea. Such medicines do more harm than good. 

ROUP. 

With the single exception of cholera, roup is the most troublesome and 
offensive, and, if neglected, the most fatal of poultry diseases. It first affects 
the membranes which lines the nostrils, but when neglected it soon extends to 
the head and throat and finally affects the fowl " all over," just as a neglected 
cold in a human subject often " runs into " more serious diseases. Roup is con- 
tagious, and when it once gets a foothold in a neighborhood the flocks of the 
most careful poultry-keeper are liable to be attacked. It is most prevalent 
among adult fowls, but chickens are sometimes attacked. Fowls not treated 
generally die in from three to ten days after the first symptoms appear, though 
sometimes a roupy fowl will linger along two or three weeks. 

Cause. — Roup never comes without a cause, and the chief cause is a 
neglected cold. Fowls take cold from roosting in draught, confinement in 
damp houses, undue exposure to cold and wet after being confined to artificially 
warmed houses, and exposure to cold after the system has been over-stimulated 
by the injudicious use of cayenne pepper or of "egg-foods" that are chiefly 
made of cayenne. Upon this subject Mr. F. C. Sturtevant, of Hartford, Conn., 
says : " I think the over-feeding of cayenne is a prolific cause of roup. Most 
poultry writers advise feeding a little cayenne, and the inexperienced poultry- 
keepers think if a little is good; more will be better, so they shovel it in. It 
heats the fowls up, gives them a regular sweat, and then they take cold upon 
the least exposure to the cold outer air. The same performance is repeated 
day after day until the fowls have the roup." 

Prevention. — The preventive measures are obvious. Guard against all the 
causes mentioned, and if the disease appears among your neighbors' fowls use 
the disinfectants and give the carbolic acid, charcoal and Douglass Mixture 
recommended to prevent cholera. To be sure the disease may gain a foothold 
among your fowls in spite of your preventive measures, but if it should it will 
be of a milder type and more easily controlled than when it breaks out among 
fowls that arc kept in damp, filthy houses, in total disregard of all sanitary laws. 
Concerning this subject the American Poultry Yard says: "The fact that 
fowls sometimes get along amid filthy surroundings with no attacks from ron-i 
5*ww that this disease and filth are not always inseparably connected, Roiy ui 



14 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD— BY FANNY FIELD. 

poultry is like diptheria in the human subject. Before the disease appears in a 
neighborhood the filthy places and the clean ones are alike exempt, but after 
it appears the places having the most filthy surrounding offers it the most con- 
genial home. Roup thrives and shows the most malignant form in damp, dirty 
fowl-quarters." 

Symptoms. — The first symptoms of roup are just those of a common cold — 
hoarseness, sneezing and a slight discharge from the nostrils. In the second 
stage of the disease the hoarseness and rattling in the throat is more pro- 
nounced, the fowl shows fever and weakness, eyes inflamed and watery, and the 
discharge from the nostrils increases, grows yellow and thickens and becomes 
very offensive as the disease progresses. In the third and last stage the fowl is 
weaker, the nostrils are clogged with thick matter, the head swells, one or both 
eyes are closed, ulcers form in the throat and sometimes around the eyes, the 
comb turns black and the fowl dies. 

Treatment. — When the roup appears among a flock, separate the sick from 
the well, and proceed to clean and disinfect the premises as recommended for 
cholera, as the disease is communicated from one fowl to another by the dis- 
charge from the nostrils and eyes, carefully clean the feed troughs and drinking 
vessels that have been used by the affected fowls. Give the sick fowls a dessert- 
spoonful of castor oil at night, and for the next week feed chiefly on cooked 
food with daily doses of the charcoal, Douglass Mixture and acid. Also give all 
the apparently well fowls one or two doses of the acid, and the charcoal and 
Douglass Mixture daily for a week. This course of treatment will usually clear 
the roup off your premises in a week. 

For roup in the second stage, give the dose of castor oil, and afterwards 
use the "German Roup Pills" according to directions. These pills will cure 
roup whenever a cure is possible. Besides the pills, give the charcoal and 
Douglass Mixture. Examine the throat, and if ulcers have commenced to form 
dust them twice a day with pulverized chlorate of potash. Open the bill and 
put a big pinch of the dry powder right where it will do the most good. Most 
of the fowls so treated will recover. 

After the disease reaches the third stage the best remedy is the hatchet. 
Such fowls are not worth fussing with. 

Keep fowls that you are treating for roup in a dry place, and do not return 
hem to the flock until you are sure they are entirely well. 

Bs "kind o' careful ." wfeea handling roupy fowls, for if any of the dis* 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 15 

charge from the nostrils and eyes gets into a cut or scratch on the hands, or 
comes in contact with the eye it will be apt to cause serious inflammation. 

Is Roup Hereditary ? — Well, I don't know ; perhaps not exactly, but I do 
know that chicks from fowls that have had the roup do not seem as strong as 
chicks from healthy stock, and they fall easy victims to the first chicken ail that 
comes along. I once had a yard of Partridge Cochins that had the roup badly. 
Several of the hens died, but I doctored the majority of them through it. The 
cock was very bad, and as he cost a ten-dollar bill, I naturally fussed over him 
a good deal ; don't know but I prayed over him ; at any rate he finally pulled 
through and by the first of March seemed as well as ever, so I concluded to 
breed from him. The chicks hatched all right and seemed strong until the first 
spell of damp weather, then we lost nearly forty out of one hundred and fifty. 
From that time they dropped off by ones and by twos until October, when we 
found that we had less than fifty left. We took extra care of those and they 
weathered the cold fall rains without exhibiting any symptoms of roup ; but we 
did not dare to sell them for breeders, so we fattened the whole lot for market. 
In November the roup broke out again among the old stock of P. Cochins, and 
every fowl that had the disease the year before took it and would have died of 
it if we hadn't killed them before they had time to die. Since that time I have 
never bred from a fowl that ever had the roup ; it don't pay. 

LICE. 

Notwithstanding all that has been said and written about the importance of 
keeping fowls and chickens free from lice, I firmly believe that nine-tenths of 
the poultry and poultry-houses in the country are fairly overrun with lice of all 
sorts and sizes. Each individual poultry raiser seems to think that it is impos- 
sible for his fowls to be lousy — that all the advice and warnings about lice are 
meant for some other man. The farmer reads a long article on the subject and 
says: "Well, that's good advice for the fellows who have to keep their hens 
shut up in a little yard. Hens that are kept cooped up will get lousy. I am 
glad that we farmers don't have to keep our hens shut up and fight lice all the 
time." The man who keeps his fowls "cooped up" reads the same article, 
and says : "Well, that's good advice for the farmers, who keep their hens any- 
how, just as it happens. Hens that take their chances as most farmers' fowls 
do, will get lousy, but we who keep our fowls up in decent houses and yards 
have no need to fear lice." And so it goes, each one can see a cord of wood in 
his neighbor's poultry keeping eyes, but he cannot see the smallest chip in his 



16 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

own. Let me tell you that fowls and fowl-houses that are not properly cared 
for will get lousy, no matter where they are or who owns them, and when you 
read a piece of advice that seems good, better find out whether you need it 
yourself or not before you pass it on to some one else. If the advice were in 
solid currency, you wouldn' t be so anxious to pass it on to your neighbor. The 
other day a poultry raiser wanted me to "take a look" at his half-grown 
chickens and see if I could "make out" what ailed them. I "took a look," 
and behold ! they were literally covered with lice. A more astonished man you 
never saw. "Why," said he, " I never once suspected lice. I was afraid that 
something was wrong with my way of feeding." Another poultry keeper took 
me through his poultry-house, bragged (that's the right word) about his superior 
methods of caring for poultry, etc., but when I came out I found chicken lice 
on my hands. And more than half the letters I receive about chicken ails indi- 
cate clearly that lice are at the bottom of the troubles. If a good many of the 
poultry raisers who are hunting remedies for ' ' droopy " chicks and ailing fowls 
would wage a war of extermination against lice they would save time, money, 
fowls and chicks, and a good deal of useless dosing with drugs. 

To Provent Lice on Fotvls. — Attend to the house-cleaning and whitewashing 
in season, wet the perches with coal oil once a month the year round, and pro- 
vide some place where your fowls can wallow in dust and ashes to their hearts' 
content. 

To get rid of the pests after they have taken possession of a poultry 
house and staked out claims on the fowls' bodies : Catch the fowls and rub coal 
oil on the heads, under the wings and into the feathers on the under part of the 
body. Then carry every movable thing out of the house and thoroughly white- 
wash the whole of the inside. If the floor is covered with dry earth, as the 
floor of every well-regulated poultry -house should be, scrape off the top and 
carry it somewhere out of the reach of the fowls, and sprinkle on some air- 
slaked lime and fresh earth. Next, shut up the house and fumigate with 
burning sulphur and alcohol ; the fumes will reach and kill any lice that the 
whitewash failed to reach. If you have not the alcohol, or dislike to use it, use 
the sulphur alone. While this work of death is going on inside, take boiling 
hot soap-suds and an old broom and clean perches and nest boxes. When they 
are dry wet the perches with coal oil, and pour some into the cracks of the 
boxes. Burn the old nesting, and in the new sprinkle snuff, tobacco, carbolic 
powder or insect powder. Heroic measures of this kind will effectually " clean 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY VaAD — BY FANNY FIELD. 17 

out" lice of any "breed" — even the obstinate red mites. Open the house and 
air well before admitting the fowls. 

Lice on Chicks. — When your little chicks mope arround and act as if they 
didn't care much about living anyway, you had better examine for lice. If you 
find them, dust carbolic powder, insect powder well into the feathers of hen and 
chicks just before they go to bed. 

When chicks throw their heads up and back, tumble over backwards, squat 
down and "rock" themselves back and forth, shake their heads, stretch their 
necks, and stand with beaks touching the ground, and act as if bewitched gen- 
erally, examine their heads and you will find large lice or ticks on top of the 
head, eating their way into the brain. Remove the parasites (a big pin or 
darning needle is handy to catch these big lice with) and rub the head with a 
mixture of sweet oil and carbolic acid — two or three drops of the acid to a table- 
spoonful of the oil. If you have not the acid at hand, use the oil alone, or even 
pure fresh lard if nothing else be at hand. But it is a good plan for every poultry 
raiser to keep a bottle of the mixture of acid and oil on hand. 

To prevent lice on chicks, dust your hens, when they commence sitting, 
thoroughly with sulphur, carbolic powder, or insect powder, and repeat the per- 
formance a few days before the chicks are due ; and, as a final precaution, when 
you take the chicks from the nest just touch their heads with the oil and acid 
mixture. 

Never use coal oil or grease of any kind on sitting hens, for it is liable to 
prevent the eggs from hatching. 

Keep coal oil and sulphur, lard and sulphur, and clear sulphur away from 
young chicks ; the sulphur is apt to get iu the eyes and injure them, even if it 
does not cause blindness, and all mixtures of grease and sulphur generally kill 
lice and chicks together. Clear coal oil may be used on chicks if used sparingly, 
and no evil results follow, but when there are other remedies that are equally 
good, and quite safe, it is better to let the coal oil alone. Just so with clear sul- 
phur ; it may be used and no harm come of it, but it is better to keep on the safe 
side. Coal oil may be used on half-grown chickens. 

GAPES 

in chicks are caused by the presence of small worms in the windpipe. Some- 
times the worms are so numerous that they completely fill the windpipe, and 
the chick dies of suffocation. Where these worms come from in the first place 
is still one of the " unsolved mysteries ;" but I have noticed that the gapes occur 



18 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD— BY FANNY FIELD., 

most frequently among chicks that are kept in damp, filthy coops, fed on sour, 
sloppy food, and allowed access to impure water. 

Prevention. — Good food, pure water, strict cleanliness about the coops and 
runs, Douglass Mixture in the drink and "Imperial Egg Food" in the feed 
three times a week, will prevent gapes unless the premises where the chicks are 
kept are already infested with gape worms. 

Syjnptoms and Treatment. — The name of the disease sufficiently describes 
the symptoms. The best remedy is the fumes of burning carbolic acid. Fix a 
coop or box so that you can shut the chicks in the upper half, and fumigate by 
putting a few drops of the acid on a red hot shovel, placed in the lower part 
under the birds. Keep the chicks in the fumes until they are nearly suffocated, 
but watch closely lest you quite "choke them to death." We have tried this 
method and cured chicks that seemed almost dead. We have also fumigated 
with sulphur, with good success. 

Another good remedy is air-slaked lime. Put the chicks in a box and tie a 
piece of cheese cloth over the top ; spread the lime over this, and then shake a 
little, so that the fine lime will sift down among the chicks, but don't overdo the 
matter and smother them. 

If the patients are taken in hand as soon as the gasping and coughing are 
noticed, a small pill of camphor gum, or a little turpentine (four or five drops 
mixed with a pint of food), will generally effect a cure. Chicks that die of 
gapes should be burned or buried deep, with plenty of quick-lime, the coops 
moved to fresh ground, the old places spaded over and lime scattered freely. 
When the gapes appear among chicks give the well ones a preventive in the 
shape of the small camphor pill, or a dose (two or three drops apiece) of 
coal oil. 

LEG WEAKNESS. 

Cause and Symptoms. — True leg weakness, the kind that at first affects the 
legs only, the health otherwise being good, is almost wholly confined to the 
large breeds, and is caused by rapid growth, which increases the weight of the 
body out of proportion to the strength of the legs. The tendency to this ail- 
ment is increased by lack of bone-forming material in the food. The trouble 
usually begins when the chickens are between four and five months old, but 
sometimes not until later, and in some cases earlier. Cockerels are more liable 
to be attacked than pullets. 

The first symptom of leg weakness is a shaking or trembling of the legs 



HEALTH IX THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 19 

when the chick stands or walks. Sometimes, when chickens come from un- 
usually vigorous parent stock, they will soon outgrow this shaking without any 
medical treatment ; but usually the shaking grows worse, until in a short time 
the chicken squats down a good part of the time, and finally gets unable to walk 
at all. Generally the appetite remains good, even after the patient can no 
longer walk. 

Treatment, to be effectual, should be commenced as soon as the first symp- 
tom of weakness is shown, for after the chickens once get down on their hocks 
no amount of treatment will ever bring them up again ; at least that has been 
my experieuce. I have doctored a good many cases of leg weakness, but never 
yet saved a chick when treatment was put off until after the victim was past 
walking. 

The first thing to be looked after is the food ; if the chickens have been fed 
chiefly on corn meal change to bran, shorts, and whole wheat, and feed raw 
eggs — one egg a day to every two patients. Give milk to drink if you can get 
it, and give bone meal — a teaspoonful a day to each chicken — in the cooked 
food. Keep crushed oyster shells or old plaster where they can help themselves. 
For medicine give Douglass Mixture — about one-half a teaspoonful a day to each 
chick — in food or drink, and twice a day a half-grain pill of quinine. The patients 
should show signs of improvement in a week ; then give only one pill a day, and 
as soon as the shaking ceases leave off the pills and eggs, but continue the bone 
meal — a teaspoonful to a pint of food three or four times a week — and Douglass 
Mixture, a teaspoonful to a pint of drink once a day, for three or four weeks longer. 
Continue to feed at least one-third bran and shorts, and always keep lime in 
some shape by them. It is a great mistake to suppose that only laying hens 
need lime. If a week of steady treatment fails to benefit the chicks, and they 
grow worse, it will not pay to fuss with them. Kill them and have done with it. 

When leg weakness comes on in half -grown chicks of the smaller breeds it 
is a symptom of constitutional weakness. Give pills and Douglass Mixture as 
directed fcr chicks of larger breeds, until the chicks brace up, then feed the bone 
meal and mix lime right along, together with a liberal allowance of meat. By 
this course many can be carried along to maturity. But they should not be kept 
over for breeders ; market them as soon as they reach a marketable age and 
condition. 

Chickens that are under treatment for leg weakness should be separated 
from others, because the stronger ones will fight and crowd them around, and 



30 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YAHD — BY FANNY FlELD. v 

make recovery more difficult, if not impossible. But do not confine the sick 
ones to a close coop ; they need room to take exercise. 

Prevention. — Prevent leg weakness in chicks by breeding from healthy 
stock and feeding plenty of bone-making material. 

Leg Weakness in Old Fowl comes from sexual causes. Sometimes it is 
caused by too high feeding and too little exercise ; the fowls get so fat and heavy 
that they cannot walk or stand without shaking. This form of weakness can 
sometimes be cured by cutting down the food, giving the Douglass mixture, bone 
meal, and burnt bones, and forcing the fowls to exercise by burying their grain 
in litter. But the better way is to kill such fowls for the table or market. If 
killed at once before the legs give out entirely and the general health is injured 
by lack of exercise, they will be just as wholesome eating as though the legs 
were all right. 

Another form of leg weakness comes from injury to the hock joint, and is 
caused by jumping from high roosts ; the joint is sprained, the sprain neglected, 
and either a weak joint or a stiff joint is usually the result. Preventive measures 
are obvious. To cure, at once put the injured fowl by itself in a coop well lit- 
tered with straw, but without any perch, and beyond feeding let it alone. Nature 
will work the cure if the fowl be cared for when first lamed, but if neglected 
until the joint is much weakened, or until it has stiffened, no treatment will 
restore the joint to its natural condition. 

Paralysis of the Legs is entirely different from other forms of leg weakness 
and is brought on by an attack of apoplexy, or by spinal disease, or it may fol- 
low a severe attack of gout or rheumatism. Probably it sometimes comes from 
causes which we do not understand. It occurs in adult fowls, and the best 
remedy is the hatchet. 

SCALY LEGS. 

The rough, bunchy, scaly legs on fowls are caused by a minute insect which 
burrows under the scales. The disease is contagious, and one scaly-legged hen 
will soon effect the whole flock. If you notice any unnatural roughness on the 
legs and feet attend to it at once. There are several good remedies, but none 
better than coal oil. Dip the fowls' legs into the oil and hold them there until 
the oil has time to penetrate beneath the scales and kill the mischief-makers. 
These applications, with an interval of one or two days between, will gener 
ally effect a cure ; the scales will loosen and fall off, but don't attempt to hasten 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 21 

the process by rubbing or scraping them off; just rub the legs carefully every 
day with melted lard or sweet oil until they are smooth and well again. 

CHILLS 

are caused by undue exposure to cold and wet. 

To prevent and aire, keep the chicks confined to the limits of the coop and 
small run on rainy days, and also on pleasant days until after the sun has dried 
the "heft" of the dew off the grass. If half fledged chicks get caught out in a 
heavy shower, turn out as soon as possible and hunt them up. Those that are 
still able to run after the mother hen will come out all right if you drive them to 
the coop with the hen. Those that do not seem to have energy enough to keep 
up with the hen should be taken to the house and kept in a warm place until 
thoroughly dry and lively again. Chicks so chilled that they are unable to stand 
may be revived by dipping them into quite warm water, and holding them there 
until they begin to kick and act as if they were warmed through. Partially dry 
them with an old soft cloth and keep in a warm place until quite dry ; then give 
a warm feed, seasoned with pepper, and return to the mother men. 

CRAMP. 

When young chicks that have free range go moping round, stagger when 
they try to walk, and squat down about half the time, they are probably troubled 
with cramp caused by confinement at night in damp coops. Preventive measures 
are obvious. Those affected can often be cured by removing to a dry place, and 
rubbing the legs daily with coal oil, strong mustard water, or any good stimu- 
lating liniment. 

Cramp also occurs among early chicks that are kept in warm, dry houses. 
In such cases it is caused by lack of exercise. Rub the legs as already recom- 
mended and force them to exercise by raking small grain or cracked corn into 
the sand that should cover the floor. 

COUGH. 

When fowls cough continually they are suffering from a cold, bronchitis, 
croup, or tubercular deposit on the lungs ; or else there is some foreign substance 
lodged in the throat or air passages. Examine the throat and if you find any ob- 
struction remove it if possible ; if not, kill the fowl. If you find nothing wrong 
and the fowl seems all right except the cough, fumigate it with sulphur and wait 



22 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

the progress of events But better shut the afflicted ones away from the oth"^ 
fowls until you are sure the cough is not a fore-runner of roup. When the cough 
does not yield to treatment and continues " about so" for any length of time it 
is probably caused by tubercular deposits, and the hatchet is the best remedy. 

CANKER. 

For canker spots in mouth or throat use powdered chlorate of potash, or 
burnt alum. Give Douglass Mixture daily, and keep the fowls away from the 
rest of the flock, for canker is contagious, and sometimes precedes an outbreak 
of roup. 

CONSTIPATION. 

Early chicks that are raised wholly indoors are sometimes troubled with 
constipation. It is caused by lack of green food, lack of gravel or coarse sand 
to aid in digesting food properly, too much concentrated food and lack of exer- 
cise. It generally comes on when the chicks are about two weeks old. Give a 
half teaspoonful castor oil, supply green food and plenty of gravel. Also give 
pulverized charcoal in the food twice a week, and induce them to scratch as 
recommended in the treatment for cramp. Later chicks, kept out of doors, are 
seldom troubled with this disease. 

Old fowls that are confined to small yards and not properly supplied with 
green food sometimes suffer from constipation. Give a teaspoonful of castor oil 
and afterwards supply green food of some kind daily. 

DIARRHOEA 

f ,*nong young chicks is generally caused by sour, sloppy, uncooked food, impure 
water, filthy coops, sometimes by exposure to cold and wet, and sometimes by 
too much green food. The mention of the causes indicates the preventive 
measures. 

Treatment. — Feed cooked rice, wheat bread scalded in milk, give scalded 
milk to drink, and twice a day, until the chicks show signs of improvement, mix 
a tablespoonful each of powdered chalk and fine bone meal, and a "pinch" of 
cayenne with each pint of food. Also give Douglass Mixture freely in the drink. 
This treatment will generally cure if the patients are taken in hand as soon as 
the disease appears. But if the diarrhoea is pretty bad before you begin to 
"doctor" — discharges of a clayey color, and the chick "bakes up behind"— 
give a half-teaspoonful of tincture of rhubarb, and afterwards give twice a day 
a small pill made of equal parts of cayenne, powdered chalk and rhubarb, wet 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. %d 

up with spirits of camphor enough to form into shape. Also give the Douglass 
Mixture and bone meal as before recommended. 

Diarrhoea often attacks old fowls that are confined to yards. It is caused 
by too much green food, or by other errors in feeding. Correct the errors in 
diet, give a teaspoonful dose of extract of rhubarb, and afterwards two of the 
pills recommended for chicks twice a day. Give bone meal and Douglass Mix- 
ture, and feed on well cooked food until they are well. If this course of treat- 
ment does not benefit the patient within a week, better use the hatchet, for, in 
spite of doctoring, diarrhoea in old fowls often becomes chronic. 

DYSENTERY 

is a bad form of diarrhoea, and the evacuations are streaked with blood. It 

usually follows a neglected diarrhoea. Give the castor oil and pills as directed 

for diarrhoea in old fowls ; and twice a day give five drops of laudanum. Cure 

doubtful. 

CROP BOUND. 

When a fowl's crop is hard and swollen and about twice as big as it ought 
to be, there is something that prevents the food from passing into the stomach. 
Pour some warm water down the throat and then carefully knead the crop until 
the contents are softened somewhat ; then hold the fowl's head down and the 
bill open and work at the crop a few minutes longer. After this performance 
give a tablespoonful of castor oil and shut the fowl up without food for ten or 
twelve hours. At the expiration of that time, if the crop be not empty or partly 
empty, cut it open and remove the contents. Make the cut an inch and a half 
in the upper part of the crop. Use a small, sharp blade, and take care not to 
cut across any of the larger blood vessels. After the contents have been re- 
moved oil^your finger and pass it carefully as far as possible down the passages 
to the stomach, to make sure that the food can in future have the "right of 
way." Take two or three stitches in the cut in the crop and two or three more 
in the cut in the outer skin. If you sew both cuts up together the fowl will "lean 
forward ' ' rather too much for symmetry. Shut the patient away from other fowls 
and feed lightly on soft cooked food for a week or so. Give no drink for the 
first two days after the operation. 

SORE EYES 

in chicks are generally caused by the use of sulphur, or sulphur and grease, for 
lice. The sulphur gets into their eyes, makes them sore, and often causes blind- 



24 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. " 

ness. It will be easier to avoid the cause than to cure the eyes after they once 
get sore ; in fact the only remedy that I shall suggest for a sore-eyed chicken is 
the hatchet. 

BREAK DOWN. 

Sometimes old hens, especially of the larger breeds, become so loaded with 
fat that they are " dreadful baggy like " behind, and can hardly walk. This diffi- 
culty can sometimes be overcome by semi-starvation for awhile, but it is apt to 
return again as soon as the fowl is placed on regular rations. It is hardly worth 
while to bother with such hens, for since the only trouble is over-fatness they can 
be killed and eaten. 

INFLAMMATION OF OVIDUCT 

usually occurs in fowls that have been forced, by highly stimulating foods, to 
their utmost in the way of egg production. The hen is feverish, has a distressed 
look, and is continually straining as if to lay. Hens affected this way never 
amount to much afterwards, and the wisest course of treatment is one that will 
put them out of misery the quickest. 

EGGS BROKEN IN OVIDUCT. 

The only symptoms are the desperate efforts of the hen to rid herself of the 
wreck. Carefully inject sweet oil or castor oil into the oviduct ; in some cases 
this will cause the expulsion of the broken egg in an hour or so, but the majority 
of such accidents prove fatal. 

SOFT-SHELLED EGGS 

are caused by lack of material for egg-shells, and by over-feeding wfth stimula- 
ting food. The mention of the cause indicates plainly the preventives and 
remedies. 

EGG-BOUND. 

Symptoms. — Hen remains on the nest a long time trying to expel the egg; 
comes off and walks about with a distressed look, but soon returns to the nest. 
If you can see the coming egg take a feather and oil the rent ; but if the egg be 
not visible give the hen a tablespoonful of castor oil and shut her away from the 
other fowls. If relief be not obtained in six or eight hours, inject sweet oil or 
castor oil into the oviduct, taking care not to break the egg. 



Wealth in the poultry yard— by fanny field. 25 

BUMBLE FOOT 

is simply a lump on the bottom of the foot and is usually caused by jumping 
from a high perch on to the bare hard floor. Sometimes this lump contains 
matter ; if so, it will feel soft and hot, and the fowl will walk as if it hurt. Cut it 
open and press out the matter. Keep the fowl by itself on a straw-littered floor, 
and wash the foot daily with carbolic soap suds, or with castile soap suds, to 
which have been added a few drops of carbolic acid. To prevent these 
"lumps" place the perches low, or else provide a ladder for the fowls. 

RHEUMATISM. 

The symptoms of rheumatism are lameness, stiffness of the legs, and a dis- 
inclination to move. Sometimes the toes are drawn as with cramp. The dis- 
ease is caused by confinement to damp houses and cold, swampy runs. Soak 
the feet and legs for a few minutes in mustard water (teaspoonful of ground 
mustard to a quart of water), as hot as the fowl can bear ; then wipe dry and 
rub with coal oil, or with any stimulating liniment. Give ginger and pepper in 
the food and Douglass Mixture in the drink. Follow this course ol treatment 
daily until the fowl begins to improve ; then use the liniment two or three times 
a week until the patient is cured. Keep affected fowls on a well-littered floor 
in a dry place where they will not be annoyed by other fowls. Rheumatism is 
hereditary, and fowls that have it should not be used as breeders. 

LAMENESS 
that is caused by a sprain or an accident of any kind needs no medical treat- 
ment. Put the fowl by itself and let nature do the rest. 

CHICKEN-POX 

manifests itself in the shape of small, scabby sores on the head and face. It 
is contagious, but if attended to in time is not often fatal. Wash the affected 
parts daily with carbolic soap suds, give pulverized charcoal and sulphur in the 
food and Douglass Mixture freely in the drink. If the fowl is not benefited by 
this treatment, and the sores run together, apply the hatchet. The original 
sause of chicken-pox ? I don't know. 

CONSUMPTION. 

A neglected cold sometimes runs into consumption instead of roup; and 
sometimes fowls that to all outward appearance have been cured of roup will 



26 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

soon afterwards "go off in a gallopin' consumption." The chief symptoms are 
cough and emaciation. There is no cure, and the sooner a consumptive fowl is 
killed the better for the fowl and her owner. Dark, damp, filthy poultry houses 
favor the development of the disease. 

BRONCHITIS 

comes from a neglected cold, and is a sort of half-way disease between a bad 
cold and consumption. The symptoms are cough, rattling in the throat, and 
sometimes a slight discharge from the nostrils. Like those of roup ? Yes ; but 
with a difference ; the roupy discharge emits an offensive odor, the discharge 
caused by a common cold, or by bronchitis, is not offensive. Put the fowl in a 
dry place, give a dose of castor oil, and afterwards use the German roup pills. 

LIVER DISEASE. 

The symptoms of liver disease are laziness and loss of appetite, but as these 
symptoms also indicate other diseases, it is almost impossible to ascertain whether 
the liver is affected or not until after the fowl is dead. It is caused by over-feed- 
ing — generally with highly seasoned food — or by other errors in diet, and lack 
of sufficient exercise. Preventives are obvious. Cut down the rations, give one 
grain of calomel every other day for a week, feed onions freely, and give free 
range if possible. 

APOPLEXY 

is not a common disease among poultry, but it occasionally appears, and when it 
does it usually takes the " biggest and best " of the flock. It is caused by high 
feeding in hot weather, and exposure to intense heat. The usual symptoms are 
drooping wings and a staggering walk. Sometimes the fowl whirls and runs 
about as if crazy ; and sometimes fowls die right off without any symptoms. 
Fowls that have free range, plenty of shade, and cool water in hot weather, and 
are properly led, are not troubled with this disease. Apoplexy is a hard matter 
to cure, for the fowl is generally dead before you notice anything wrong. But if 
you see one of your fine fat fowls staggering about as if drunk, give a big dose (a 
dessert spoonful) of castor oil, and let her fast for twenty-four hours ; then feed 
lightly on cooked food, and keep her quiet for a week. When the fowl is pretty 
near gone before you notice it hold its head under a stream of cold water, or 
plunge it head first into cold water. If the bird " comes to " and seems relieved* 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 27 

give the physic and shut up in a quiet place ; but if no better, open one of the 
large veins under the wing and let the fowl bleed freely. Stop the bleeding with 
burnt alum-. 

WHITE COMB 

is a sort of scurf or dandruff that covers the comb, and sometimes the whole 
head. In bad cases the feathers come off. It is caused by improper food and 
filthy quarters. Clean up, correct errors in feeding, give sulphur internally, and 
apply Stoddard's poultry ointment to the head. 

BLACK ROT 

is another disease that is caused by improper food and filthy fowl houses. The 
symptoms are black comb and swelling of the feet and legs. If you feel like 
doctoring fowls afflicted this way, give a dose of castor oil, and afterwards use 
the Douglas Mixture freely ; but the better way would be to kill the sick and 
take better care of those that are left. 

ITCH 

is another filth disease, and appears in the shape ot a rash on the head and body 
of the fowl. Treat as directed for white comb. 

FROST BITES. 

When comb and wattles have been "touched by frost," or actually frozen, 
keep the fowl away from a fire and thaw the frozen parts by the application of 
cold water or snow ; then anoint daily with sweet oil. A fowl with frozen feet 
should be killed at once. If killed before the feet thaw out and the fowl grows 
feverish, it will be all right for table use. To prevent frost bites — well, if you 
live where the mercury goes down in the bulb whenever it happens to think of it 
during the winter, you had better have a comfortable poultry-house, and keep 
fowls that wear small combs and wattles. 

OBSCURE DISEASES OF CHICKS. 

It frequently happens that whole broods of chicks that are well fed and cared 
for in every respect, droop, mope around, grow weaker and weaker, and finally 
die without any apparent disease. The trouble comes from lack of vitality in 
the parent stock. If you would have healthy chicks that will grow right along, 



Xb HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

never breed from fowls that are not strong and healthy in every respect. If you 
breed from fowls whose constitutions have been weakened by disease, or by in- 
judicious, haphazard in-breeding, the chicks will be a sickly lot that will never 
pay for the trouble of hatching. 

INJURIES. 
The best remedy for serious injuries — broken legs or wings — is the hatchet. 

WORMS. 

Fowls whose digestive organs are ' ' out of order ' ' are often troubled with 
worms. When you notice worms in the evacuations, give each fowl a piece of 
camphor gum the size of a common pill ; twelve hours later give a dose of castor 
oil and for the next two weeks give sulphur and pulverized charcoal in the food 
two or three times a week. 

MOULTING 

is not a disease ; it is a natural process, and the fowls will get along all right if 
they are well fed and otherwise well cared for. If any seem weak and ailing 
"tone them up" with a little Imperial Egg Food two or three times a week. 

BREAKING SITTING HENS. 

The desire to sit isn't a disease either, but it often causes the poultry-keeper 
lots of trouble. When your hens take a notion to rear a family contrary to your 
wishes, don't try any of the old-fashioned, barbarous methods of "breaking them 
up," but the first time you find them on the nest after the other hens have gone 
to roost remove them to a roomy coop, give them a lively young rooster for com- 
pany, and leave them to meditate on the error of their ways. Have a perch in 
the coop, but nothing that can be used for a nest. In three or four days, or a 
week at most, they will be thoroughly cured of their desire to sit. 

FEATHER-EATING 

is a vice engendered by idleness, and it is not often cured by diet or medicine. 
The only "sure cure" is a bit passed through the mouth aud held in place by a 
wire passed through or around the comb. The bit is just large enough to pre- 
vent the criminal from shutting the bill close enough to grasp the feathers, but 
does not interfere with eating. These bits are patented, and can be bought two 
for a quarter. As soon as you find a feather eater in your flock, kill her or put 
a bit in her mouth at once, else she will teach the habit to the whole flock. To 
prevent fowls from acquiring this habit, keep them busy. 



HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 29 

EGG-EATING 
is another vice, and I don't believe it is always caused by a craving for lime and 
fresh meat. There are several ways by which hens learn to eat their eggs. In 
cold weather eggs are left in the nest until they freeze and crack open ; the hens 
peck at the cracked eggs, and thus learn that eggs are good to eat. Egg-shells 
are carelessly thrown to fowls and they devour them for the sake of the lime, and 
soon learn to peck at the whole eggs. But in most cases I think the cause is 
simply lack ot exercise ; the fowls are shut in close quarters with nothing in 
particular to do, they get to scratching about in the nests, the eggs get broken, 
she pokes her bill in, and the mischief is done ; henceforth that hen is an egg- 
eater until she dies — unless you can break her off the notion. And that is not 
the worst of it ; she will soon teach the trick to the whole flock. 

The quickest way to get rid of egg-eaters is to watch until you catch the 
guilty ones, and then cut their heads off". Another method is to shut them up in 
a coop, feed plenty of lime and raw meat, and leave three or four porcelain nest 
eggs around ; they will try to break these eggs, but finding that they cannot do 
it they will finally give up ; but it will take a month of confinement and porcelain 
eggs to affect a cure. Still another way is to fill egg-shells with a mixture of 
cayenne and mustard and leave them in the nests. The " philosophy " of this 
is that one mouthful of the prepared eggs will so disgust the hen that she will 
never break another "real" egg. 

To keep hens from learning that eggs are good to eat, never throw egg- 
shells to them, provide nest eggs that won't freeze, gather the eggs often, make 
the nests so that they will be dark inside, or so that the eggs will roll out of 
sight as soon as laid, and above all keep your fowls busy when they are con- 
fined to the limits of the house and a small yard. 

"CHIGGERS." 

Our friends who live where chiggers abouud, know how the little wretches 

penetrate beneath the skin and rear their families there. To cure: add four or 

five drops of carbolic acid to a tablespoonful of sweet oil and rub on the afflicted 

places. The acid will kill the chiggers, and the oil will prevent the acid from 

hurting the fowl. 

DISEASES OF TURKEYS. 

Young turkeys are liable to chills, cramps, and leg weakness, and old and 
young are liable to attacks of roup and cholera. Use the same preventive 
measures and give the same treatment recommended for chickens. 



30 HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD — BY FANNY FIELD. 

DISEASES OF DUCKS. 

Before they are fully feathered ducklings are liable to chills if allowed to 
take to the streams or pond, or paddle about in the cold wet grass. Treat chilled 
ducklings as you would chilled chicks. Old ducks are almost always healthy. 

HANDY TO HAVE. 

It is not necessary for the poultry-keeper to keep a whole drug store on 
hand, but he ought to keep a supply of sulphur, coal oil, carbolic acid, castor 
oil, pulverized chlorate of potash, charcoal, roup pills, sweet oil and Douglass 
Mixture. 

RECIPE FOR DOUGLASS MIXTURE. 

To one gallon of soft water add one-half pound of common copperas ; when 
the copperas is dissolved add one-half ounce of sulphuric acid. Keep corked in 
a jug. This mixture should be given laying fowls and growing chicks two 01 
three times a week ; dose, one tablespoonful to a qnart of water. 




CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Apoplexy . 26 

Black Rot 27 

Breaking Sitting Hens 28 

Bronchitis 26 

Bumble Foot • 25 

Break Down 24 

Causes of Disease Among Poultry 5 

Cholera ............ q 

Chills .... 21 

Cramp ......... , . . . 21 

Cough 21 

Canker 22 

Constipation 22 

Crop Bound 23 

Chicken Pox 25 

Consumption 25 

Concerning the Cure of Poultry Diseases 9 

Chiggers . 29 

Diarrhoea 22 

Dysentery 23 

Diseases of Turkeys 29 

Diseases of Ducks . < 30 

Douglass Mixture .3° 

Egg Bound 24 

Eggs Broken in Oviduct 24 

Egg Eating . 29 

Eggs, Soft-shelled 24 

Frost Bites 27 

Feather Eating 28 

Gapes . . . • • • • 17 

Handy to Have 30 

How to Prevent Disease . . . .-...' 6 

Itch . 27 

Injuries 28 

Lice 15 

Inflammation of Oviduct 24 

Lameness » 25 

Liver Disease 26 

Leg Weakness . 18 

Leg Weakness in Old Fowls .......... 20 

Moulting . . 28 

Obscure Diseases of Chicks 27 

Paralysis of the Legs . ... . - ... . - • .20 

Roup 13 

Rheumatism ...,..« .... 25 

Scaly Legs • • > • - 2 ° 

Sore Eyes - • • • 2 3 

White Comb 27 

Worms 2 ° 

Whitewash 8 



Poultry Books For Sale 



WHITE LEGHORNS. From the Shell to the Ex- 

hibition Room; 46 pages, price, - 30c 

BROWN LEGHORNS. How to Rear, Mate and 

Judge them; 48 pages, price - - 30c 

LIGHT BRAHMAS. From the Shell to the Ex- 
hibition Eoom; 64 pages, price - 30c 

HOW TO FEED FOWLS. Treatise on the proper 

foods and ways of using them; 48 pages, 30c 

DOMESTIC WATER FOWL; DUCKS, GEESE AND 
SWAN. How >to Rear and Manage 

them; 72 pages, price - - ? 30c 

WYANDOTTE CULTURE. How to Score, how 
to Select and how to Rear them; 82 
pages, price - 75c 

ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION. A book full of in- 
formation how to construct and run 
Incubators; &c; 46 pages, price - 30c 

POULTERER'S GUIDE; Or, How to Cure Sick 

Fowls, price - 30c 

HOW TO BREED PRIZE PLYMOUTH ROCKS. Price 30c 

EGG FARM. Price ... 60c 

Address. R, B. MITCHELL, Publisher, j 

CHICAGO, m*- 



POULTRY BOOKS-Oontinued. 



HOW TO PRESERVE EGGS. A complete description of 
the best methods known of keeping eggs for culinary purposes, 
48 pages, price, -..-.._ 3(jc 

HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES, Plain directions 
for mating, rearing and exhibiting prize show fowls, 56 
pages, price, .----. 30c 

THE WYANDOTTES. Their origin, description, Mateing- 
Breeders, weight, rapid growth and for, general use, 46 pages, 
price, ------- _ 30c 

PLYMOUTH ROCKS. How to mate, rear and judge them, 
every one who raises Plymouth Pocks should have this book, 
47 pages, price, ------- 30c 

FRICE LIST OF MONARCH INCUBATORS 
AND BROODERS. 

No. Incubator, 150 Eggs, size, 2|x3 ft., weight, boxed, 300 lbs. $65.00 
No. 1 " 300 " " 2§x5 " •' " 450 " 95.00 

No. 2 " 600 " " 3 x6i " ; ' " 600 " 125.00 

No 2 Brooder, 200 Chicks, - - - - 25.00 

No. 1 Brooder, for indoor work, 75 Chicks, - - 8.00 

This latter Brooder, though cheap, is first class in every respect 
Our Incubators are now put out with bingle trays. 

PRICE LIST OP LATEST IMPROVED MOU- 
BATORS AND BROODERS. 

100 Eggs Incubator, - $20.00 I 300 Eggs Incubator, - $38.00 
200 '" " - - 26.00 I 400 " " - 42.00 

BROODERS. 

No. 0. Capacity 50 chicks, only - - - $ 8 00 

No. 1. " 100 " 12.00 

No. 2. 200 - - - - 15.00 

No. 5. 400 - - - 22.00 

No. 8, " 800 " " ... . 40.00 

Directions for setting up and working accompany each Incubator 
and Brooder— also directions for feeding and caring for the chicks. 

Address R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 

CHICAGO. 

This little instrument is for marking chicks and 
fowls, in the web of the foot, which enables you 
to recognize your birds at a glance it is also ne- K £ *J 
cessary to mark the different hatches. By its use g^ ^g 
you are able to keep trace of all the birds hatched. £ % 
It is also a good detective for the chicken thief. £& ^ 

Price, 60 cents per pair, or 32 cents single. l£ £§ 




R. B. MITCHEIili, Poultry Supplies, Chicago, 111. ^ ^ 



Large size for fowls, small size for chicks, # £ £ 



POULTRY NETTING. 




Price per Square Ft In Full Rolls, 

COST. COST. 

Roll, 24 in. wide, $2.25 I Roll, 48 in wide. $4.50 

* 80 " 2.82 I " 54 " 5.07 

' 36 '■' 3.38 I " 60 " 5.65 

4*2 " 3.94 1 " 72 M 6.75 

75o. per JOO Square Ft. 

Each Roll is 150 Feet Long, 

Made of the best Steel "Wire, well galvanized 
and will last from 11 to 14 years. 

"Why by inferior goods when yon can 

get first quality from us at the 

very lowest figures possible. 

Ji@ = No goods sent C. O. D. Cash must, 
accompany the order. 



R. B. MITCHELL, 



Dearborn St., 



CHICAGO, ILL. 




WIRE HENS' NESTS. 



Something New. 



J-u-S-b "blxe TiL±XLg 



TO SCREW UP IN YOUR PENS AND RUNS. 

Light, Vermin Proof, Cheap, Durable. Other hens cannot 

disturb the layers "while on the nest. Two screws 

fastens them to the side of your pens at 

any height you please from the floor. 

PRICE, $1.50 PEB DOZ. 

A ddr ES8 . R< a MITCHELL, 

PUBLISHER, CXIICA.aO y IZ^j e 



oultry I Architecture 

HOW TO BUILD 

Handsome and Convenient^ 

FOWL HOUSES 
Durably and Economicaily. 

contains 

SEVENTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS 

©f .1? oultry = 2Kouses, ^'ards, I^uns, (Xhicken* 

(Loop's, fences, 2Ltc., and tells how to build 

them. Every one who' keeps a dozen 







fowls 


> should have this 
Price, 30 Cents. 


book, 






* 


R. 




IvL, 




Address, 


B, MITCHE 










-» PUBLISHER, ft 






CHICAGO, 


s • r , r 


X X.- Xj 


TIsTOIS 



PRICES OF EGGS 



PRICES PER SITTING OF THIRTEEN. 



VARIETIES. 



PEN S 



1 White Leghorns, Single Comb 

2 " " Rose Comb ... . 

3 Brown Leghorns, Single Comb 

4 " " Rose Comb 

5 Light Brahmas 

6 Dark " 

7 Plymouth Rocks, Summit Lawn Strain. . 

7 a 4< /Cock, Duke of Eng;lewood\ 

V. and descendants. J" ' ' 

7 a a /Cock, Pitkin's Pride, and"\ 

V descendants, /_•••• 

7 " " (extra choice, Mitchell's) 

8 Black Cochins 

> 9 White Cochins 

10 Buff Cochins 

1 1 Partridge Cochins 

12 Silver Spangled Hamburgs 

13 Black Hamburgs 

14 Houdans 

15 White Crested Black Polish 

16 White Crested White Polish 

17 Silver Bearded Polish 

18 Golden Bearded Polish 

19 White Faced Black Spanish 

20 Black Javas 

21 Mottled Javas 

22 Wyandottes 

23 Langshans 

24 White Wyandottes 

25 White Plymouth Rocks. 

26 Black B. Red Game Bantams 

27 Golden Sebright Bantams 

28 Japanese Bantams 

29 Bronze Turkeys, 60 lb. to the pair 

30 Bronze Turkeys, 50 lb. to the pair 

31 Pekin Ducks (9 eggs per sitting) 





1 


2 






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3.00 








2 00 








2.00 








3.00 






Eggs 


50 


cents 


each. 


Eggs 


40 


cents 


each. 


2.00 


1.50 




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THE SUMMIT LAWN POULTRY BOOK. 

VOL. I. NOW READY FOR DELIVERY. 

PEICE TWENTY-FIVE CDSIDTTS. 
See What it Contains. 



PAGE. 

Address, Be Particular About 35 

A Confused Gentleman 35 

Bantams, Golden Sebright 80 

Bantams, Japanese 78 

Bantams, Bose Comb, White 9S 

Bantams, Black Breasted Bed G 81 

Beginners, To 9 

Bone Meal 95 

Bones and Shells Calcined 103 

Brooders 61 

Brahmas, Dark 46-47 

Brahmas, Light 48 

Corn, Charred 104 

CornShellers 107 

Charcoal. 102 

Chickens .. 23-111 

Chickens, How to Feed Young 6-62 

Cholera 7-12 

Cholera Preventive and Cure 13-33 

Cochin Cock, Black... 36 

Uochin Hen, Black 37 

Cochin Cock, Buff 3S 

Cochin Hen, Buff 39 

Cochins, Partridge .40-41 

Cochins, White.. 42 

Combs, To Keep from Freezing 14 

Correspondents, Lady. 25 

Dommiques, American 64 

Ducks, Pekin 67 

Egg Baskets.. 67 

Eggs for Hatching 5-23 

Egg, How to Get Free 6 

Eggs, How Hatching After Shipping... 14 

Eggs in Sitting, How Many 24 

Eggs Gathered. 25 

Egg Room, Our 28 

Eggs, Prices of 54 

Express Companies 35 

Exterior View of Poultry House 85 

Egg Testing for Incubator 105-111 

Eggs— How Many Will a Hen Lay in a 

Tear.? 113 

Facts Wanted 2 

Farmers Wanting Cocks, etc 32 

Fowls, Health of 23 

Fowls, Orders for 25 

Fowls, Feeding the 28 

Fowls, Shipping. 6^41-100 

Fowls, Does It Pay to Keep 3 

Fowls, Best for Farmers 14 

Feed, Green 29 

Fowls, Prices of 55 

Grass 23 

Guarantee !!!!.-"!!"!"!""!! 4 

Hens Laying in Confineme"nt-"!!!!!!!"l06 

Hamburgs, Black 92 

House for Rearing Young Chicks"!]!" 93 

Hatching-House ... . 93 

Hamburgs, Silver-Spangled 62 

Hatching, Success in. 4 

Hens 41 

Hens, Not to Eat Eggs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 51 

Houdans 76 

Incubator House !!!!!!!..!_\ii7~93 

Interior View of Poultrv House 87 

Incubator, Bow to Run 106 



PAGE. 

Incubators 110 

Javas, Mottled 84 

Javas, Black 60 

Langshans 74 

Layers, the Best - 4 

Leghorns, Brown 52 

Leghorns, White 50 

Leghorns White, Rose Comb.. 86 

Leghorns. Brown, Rose comb 88 

Layers, Best Winter 14 

Mills, Shell and Bone 65 

Night Watchman 64 

Onion Tops for Fowls 7 

' Opening for Poultrymen 26 

Orders _. ..3-22 

Oyster Shells 95 

Offer to Boys 104 

Poultry Book for 1884, Our 103 

Poultry House, Ground Plan ..112 

Plymouth Rocks. Pure Bred. 8 

Plymouth Rocks, Extra 49 

Plymouth Rocks, White's.. 56 

Plymouth Rocks, Pitkin's 58 

Plymouth Roc^s, Summit Lawn strain. 53 

Pin 32 

Polish, White-Crested, White.... 68 

Polish, White-Crested, Black.. 70 

Polish, Silver-Bearded 72 

Polish, Golden-Bearded SO 

Poultry Books 18- 34 

Poultry is King 24 

Poultry-House, Economical ....'> 1 

Poultry-House, Our New 10-85-91 

Poultry-House, Well and Pump 14 

Poultry Jelly 95 

Poultry-Raising __ 3 

Poultry, To Those Interested in Choice. 2 

Poultry-House, Warm ... 51 

Prizes at Poultry Shows 9 

Poultry vs. Beef 113 

Poultry-House, Night Scene 89 

Plymouth Rock, How Originated. Ill 

Poultry vs. Gold Mining Ill 

Questions vs. Time 105 

Quails and the Farmer 63 

Rats in Poultry- House 15 

Roosts 31 

Roots 29 

Roup 13 

Roup, One Main Cause of 33 

Roof, to Cover 104 

Shipments 22 

Summit Lawn, How the Name Origi- 

^ nated 11 

Summit Lawn Poultry Yard, Plan of. . . 27 

Sunflower Seed, Russian 33 

Stock 3-£3 

Spanish, White-Faced, Black - 44 

Thermometers. 1C6 

Trios and Pairs, Facts About. 102 

Tar Paper 34-95-104 

Turkeys, Bronze 94 

Varieties and Numbers 3 

Wyandottes 66 

Wire Netting. .97 

Water Lime... 104 



Address; R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, Chicago, Ml, 



THE SUMMIT LAWN POULTRY BOOK. 

VOL,, 3d NOW READY FOR DELIVERY. 

_c- -i-wj-ij SEE WHAT IT CONTAINS. 

Page. Page. 



Advertisers, Our 77 

A Garden-of-Eden Rake 42 

Agents Wanted 74 

American Poultry 5 9-61 

American Dominiques 56 

An Office Episode 32 

Ancient Egyptian Poultry.. 21, 22 

Arlington Heights -----•-;: £ 

Bantams,Black-brea3ted Red Game b«J 

Bantams, Golden Seabright 63 

Bantams, Japanese — 58 

Best Fowls for Farmers 75 

Bone-meal 71 

Brahmas,Dark 40 

Brahmas, Light. 41 

Broilers 84 

Bronze Turkeys, Mammoth 6< 

Business Law in Daily Use - 23 

Capons and Caponizing - - -30, 31 

Caponizing - - i\ 

Chicks, Why So Many Die 81, 82 

Cholera.... °3 

Cholera, Preventive and Cure... '5 

Cochins, Black 21, 25 

Cochins, Buff...... 26, 27 

Cochins, Partridge 28 

Cochins, White. 29 

Collect on Delivery... 9 

Combs,Frozen 75 

Dominiques, American , 56 

Ducks, Pekin 64 

Egg Baskets.... ---- re- 
Eggs from Egypt 12 

Eggs, How to Boil &> 

Eggs, How Many in a Sittmg? 84 

Eggs, Price List of 68 

Eggs, Price of 9 

Eggs, Shipping 10 

EggTester 73 

English Poultry 52, 53 

Epigram 15 

Express Comp anies '. 10 

Fowls, Price List of 69 

Fowls, Shipping 10 

FrenchPoultry 46, 49 

Frozen Combs 75 

Game Bantams 6« 

Golden Seabright Ban tarns.. 63 

Grass 74 

Hamburgs, Black..... -- 44 

Hamburgs, Silver-Spangled 45 

Hens - 75 

Houdans -- 57 

How We Commenced -. --7, 8 

How We Feed Young Chicks --- 74 

Index to Advertisers - 3 

Invitation to Visitors 76 

Importantto Our Customers 9, 10 

Improved Poultry-House 79 

Japanese Bantams — 58 

Japanese Egg Tester - 73 

Javas, Black 51 

Javas, Mottled 50 

Ladies - 43 

Langshans -- 55 

Leghorns, Brown 17 

Leghorns, White |6 

Leghorns, Rose-comb, Brown 19 

Leghorns, Rose-comb, ^ ite -v,f;;f.>Vdri?i 



Letters 77 

Lime. 74 

Money Orders . 9 

NeBt-Boxes 72, 80 

Netting, Wire 70 

Onion Tops for Fowls 15 

Order Blanks 62 

Orders, Duplicating 10 

Orders, Making out 9 

Our Advertisers 74 

Oyster Shells 70 

Paper, Tar-felt 71 

Pekin Ducks 64 

Pip s 74 

Plymouth Rocks 13 

Plymouth Rocks, Purebred 86 

Polish, White-Crested, White 33 

Polish, White-Crested, Black 34 

Polish, Silver-Bearded 35 

Polish, Golden-Bearded 36 

Poor Richard's Maxims 61 

Postage - .- 10 

Postage, New Rates of 78 

Poultry, American 59, 61 

Poultry, Ancient Egyptian 21, 23 

Poultry Books - - 72 

Poultry Book, the Summit Lawn,1884... 85 

Poultry, Egyptian --- 21 

Poultry, English - 52, 56 

Poultry, French 46, 49 

Poultry-House Improved 79 

Poultry in Literature H, 1* 

Poultry Jelly — - 71 

Poultryman, The Successful ** 

Poultryman, The Unsuccessful 74 

Poultry, Modern Egyptian 37, 39 

Poultry Raiser, The - 49 

Poultry-Yard, Supplies for .-70, td 

Poultry, Warmthfor 75 

Poultry, What Work Shall I Get On?... 85 

Price List of Eg^s -..- 68 

Price List of Fowls 69 

Red Game Bantams 62 

Remittances 9 

Report for 1884 93 

Room Enough at the Top --- £6 



Roosts 

Roots 

Roup 

Russian Sunflower Seeds 

Seeds, Russian Sunflower 

Shakespeare, W., some Notes by 
Shipping Eggs 



7C 



... 76. 
... 71 

.: 71 
87, 92: 

.. 10 



Shipping Fowls.. 10 

Spanish, White-faced, Black 54 

Sunflower Seeds.. - -- 71 

Supplies for the Poultry-Yard < 0, 7.* 

Tar-felt Paper --- 71 

Testimonials y7 > «{~ 

The Poultry Raiser *-- 4 £ 

To Our Patrons for 1885-86 5, b 

Turkeys and Turkey-Raising 65, 6b 

Turkeys, Mammoth Bronze 67 

Ventilation.... 14, 15 

Visitors, Invitation to 7b 

Warmthfor Poultry — Jb 

What Our Patrons Say - 87, 92 

Wire Netting £> 

Wyandottes. 



Address: R. B. M'lTCHELL. Publisher. Chicago, III. 



PRACTICAL TURKEY RAISING. 

By FANNY FIELD. 
PKICE, 35 Cents. 

Read what this Book Contains: 



Alphabetical Contents: 



Architecture, Poultry 36 

Age of breeding stock 7 

About the gobbler 11 

Breeding stock, to keep up 6 

Breeding stock, get good 7 

Breeding stock, age of 7 

Breeds, the best 8 

Breeds, which is really the best . 9 

Breeds, other 9 

Breeding stock, care of 10 

Breeding stock, how keep tame . 10 

Bone-meal 35 

Bone-mills 35 

Capital to begin with 5 

Care while hatching -.3 

Care after hatching . . „ , . 13 

Coops 14 

Care until fully feathered 16 

Constipation 27 

Cholera medicine 35 

Chilled Turkeys, to Restore . . 26 

Caponizing instruments 35 

Diseases of Turkeys 24 

Diarrhoea 27 

Eggs, Care of 12 

Eggs, Setting the 12 

Egg Tester, Japanese 33 

Egg Baskets 35 

Food 14 

Pood for the young 16 

Pood, more about it 19 

Feathers, Save the 22 

Gobbler, about the 11 

Galvanized Wire Netting 30 

Hatching in Incubators 13 

Incubators, hatching in 13 

Instruments, Caponizing 35 

Jelly Poultry 35 

Keep the breeding stock tame . 10 

Killing and dressing 21 

Lice 26 

Leg Weakness 27 

Mark your turkeys 6 



1 Market, Thanksgiving 20 

Material for the poultry-yard. . 31 

Management of poultry 34 

Mills, Wilsons's bone 35 

Not a business for everybody . . 3 

Number to begin with 5 

Not hard to raise 5 

Number of hens to one gobbler . 7 

Nests 11 

Netting, wire . . 35 

Nest Eggs 35 

Overdoing the business 5 

Oyster shells 35 

Profit per head 4 

Prevention better than cure. . . 27 

Poultry supplies 35 

Pills, Roup 35 

Paper, tar felt 35 

Poultry Jelly 35 

Poultry architecture 36 

Roup 25 

Roup Pills 35 

Standard of excellence 8 

Setting Turkeys 13 

Sheds for Turkeys 17 

Save the feathers 22 

Summit Lawn Poultry Book. . 

Vol.1 29 

Summit Lawn Poultry Book, 

Vol.2 32 

Turkey raising for women 4 

Turkeys, Narragansett 8 

Turkeys, white - . 8 

Tukeys, common 9 

Turkeys, late hatched 23 

Turkeys, chilled, to restore. ... 26 

Turkeys as incubatc::c 28 

Thermometers, tested . . 35 

Thanksgiving marko •; • . . 20 

WiUitpay 3 

Weakness, leg 27 

Wire netting 30 

Wilson's Bone Mills 35 



Address 



H,. B. MITCHELL, 

PUBLISHER, CHICAGO 



POULTRY for MARKET aid POULTRY for PROFIT 

By FANNY FIELD. 

PRICE 25 Cents. 

Read what this Book Contains. 



Alphabetical Contents: 



PAGE. 

A 60-acre poultry-farm that 

clears $1,500 a year 13 

A mechanic's wife clears $300 

annually on broilers 28 

Artificial raising of chicks .... 28 
Cost of keeping adult fowls per 

anum . . 5 

Cost of raising chicks from shell 

to age of 6 months 6 

Cleanliness 9 

Clover heads 34 

Capons — what are they? . 39-38 
Capons — why don't farmers 

raise them? 38 

Caponizing 35 

Charcoal, value of 37 

Cause of death of young turkeys 17 
Capital required to start the 

business. 28 

Drink 27 

Effectual remedy for lice . 36 
Eighty-one chicks out of one- 
hundred eggs with incubator 14 
Fun in the poultry house . . . 32 

Food for chicks 16 

Fowls in confinement pay best. 25 

Gapes . . 45 

Green food 27 

Give the girls a ch ance 47 

How Fanny Field kept 100 Light 

Brahmas 3 

How Fanny Field raised 840 

chickens 3 

How Fanny Field got 12,480 

eggs from 100 hens 6 

How Fanny Field cleared $4.49 

on each fowl ... 5 

How to manage 2,000 fowls to 

make them pay 19 

ADDRESS 

R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher," 



PAGE. 

How to feed and care for young 

turkeys 18 

How to raise green food 7 

How to feed for eggs in winter 7 
How to give fowls exercise .... 7-26 
How many to keep in a flock. . 7 

Hatching-houses 8 

How many chicks to keep in a 

brooder 15 

How the blacksmith's wife kept 

fowls 24 

How to keep eggs. 20 

Incubators 31-41 

Incubators, when to start 41 

Keeping poultry on a village lot 21 
Lime, gravel and charcoal. ... 27 

Missguided people 13 

On one acre can bo cleared $100 
to $150 by keeping poultry.. 11 

Plan of poultry yards 4 

Plant a home 37 

Preserving eggs for winter ... 47 

Spring management. 8 

Shade during the hot summer 

months 8 

Spring chickens the most profit- 
able 27 

Size of poultry-house 22 

To farmers' wives, farmers' sons 

and daughters 11 

Turkey raising 17 

Vadety of food 26 

Ventilation 43 

What breeds pay best 24 

Warming the house for eggs. . . 22 
When broilers should be hatched 28 
Why so many fail in raising 

broilers 14 

What brooders are best 15 

28 



When to get ready. 



CHICAGO. 



J)OW TO QAPO|MIZE 



BY FJINNV FIEKD, 

Copyright by K. B. MITCHELL, 1886. 

POULTRY aM PET STOCK RAISER CAPONIZING INSTRUMENTS 

$4.00 PER SET, IN A NEAT CASE. 



TWEEZEES. 



FORCEPS. 





_ -^Q 



SPREADEE. 



POINTED HOOK. 

mat 

SCALPEL OE KNIFE. 



ADDRESS 

R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 



CHICAGO. 



HOW TO CAPONIZE 



BY 



FANNY FIELD 



^TTiaX. inNnsmtTJOTioasrs. 



PRICE I CENTS. 



ADDRESS, 

R. B. MITCHELL, 



PUBLISHER, 

CHICAGO. 



FOR FIVE CENTS 

f will send instructions How to Raise Broilers for 15 cents 

each and where to sell them for 60 cents. 
Address, R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, Chicago. 



CAPONS. 

What are Capons ? They are the male birds of the flock, 
treated the same as the male animals of the farm are treated to 
make them grow to a large size. 

This operation is performed when the males are about three 
months old. A cock that weighs, when fully matured, ten to 
twelve pounds, if caponized when three months old, will weigh 
from fifteen to twenty pounds at maturity. There is a growing 
demand in this country for capons, and in a few years this will 
be a distinct branch of industry. 

The reason why capons are being sought after is, their flesh is 
so much more juicy and tender than any other bird of the feath- 
ered tribe. After caponizing, these once fierce and pugilistic 
fowls, become docile and do not oiler to fight, although fifty are 
kept in the same pen. Then again, they can be allowed to roam 
over your garden, and they will do no harm so far as scratching 
is concerned ; yet at the same time they will pick up the bugs 
and worms, and thus make themselves useful without doing the 
damage that ordinary fowls will. 

This changing the cockerels into capons solves another prob- 
lem, both to the farmer and breeder of fancy stock, and, there- 
fore, is a great benefit to both in a pecuniary point of view. 
Chicks usually hatch about half males and half females, and 
while there is no trouble to use or dispose of the females, there 
is a difficulty in getting a paying price for the surplus males. 
With this change or outlet for the males, no farmer or breeder 
need hesitate longer what to do with them. If capons can be 
made to weigh from fifteen to twenty pounds, and be juicy and 
tender, and the demand unlimited, why should not the farmer 
turn his attention to. this matter and raise a flock of one or two 
hundred, and receive for them from five hundred to one thousand 
dollars annually. 

They can be raised as cheap, if not cheaper than pork, are 
certainly much better eating, and will bring nearly three times 
as much per pound as pork. Then again, this suggests to the 
farmers of the west that while they can get only from ten to twen- 
ty-five cents per bushel for their corn on the western prairies, or 



away from markets, they can feed it to the growing capons, and 
thus realize at least from fifty to seventy-five cents per bushel 
at their doors. At the present writing corn in Dakota is worth 
say fifteen cents per bushel, and m Chicago it is worth forty-two 
cents per bushel, and at these prices in Chicago it will not pay 
to ship from Dakota. What is the farmer to do with it ? He 
sees no outlet for his corn only in feeding and making it into 
pork, and when the pork arrives in Chicago it brings six cents 
per pound dressed. Now, as it takes one bushel of corn to make 
ten pounds of pork, the pork would cost one and a half cents 
per pound in Dakota, and is worth in Chicago six cents per 
pound, less the freight, while at the same time one bushel of 
corn will make at the very least six pounds of choice capon meat, 
worth twenty cents per pound in Chicago. The value of corn 
fed to the capons is the same, only fifteen cents, while the re- 
ceipts for this one bushel are $1.20. 

Then again it costs nearly 40 per cent, more to get ten pounds 
of pork to Chicago than it does six pounds of capon. But call 
the freight on each product the same, and the result is you get 
just double the price for your corn by feeding it to poultry. 
But some will say : Suppose all of us farmers go to raising 
capons, won't the markets be overstocked and reduce the prices, 
so there will be no profit in the business ? We say emphatically, 
no. People do not all think alike, and even if they should incline 
that way it would take at least twenty years to get some of them 
to make up their minds whether or not they would like the busi- 
ness. However, in every land there are some wide-awake people 
who catch on to an idea when one is fired at them, and they are 
the ones for whom this article is intended. 

We do not expect that all the farmers will heed these lines, 
but the young and enterprising ones, who take a fancy to poultry 
raising, and who can see where money is to be made, as well as 
to anticipate the wants of the coming generation, are the ones 
that will take up the cue and at once enter into a business that 
will bring them a profit, and secure for them a pleasant occu- 
pation and future independence. 




Artificial 
Incubation 



TREATS ON 



Heat Regulators. 

Egg Turners. 

Egg Drawers. 

Incubators. 

Plans for constructing Hot Ail Incuba- 
tors. 

Hot Air Moisture Apparatus. 

Hot Air Incubators (continued). 

Walls of Incubators. 

Plans for circulating Hot Water Incuba- 
tors. 

Hot Water Moisture Apparatus. 



Eules for running an Incubator. 

Incubation. 

Egg Tester. 

Standard Moisture Gauge. 

Brooders. 

Feeding and Oare of Little Chicks. 

Business Notes. 

Testimonials. 

Latest Improvements. 

Price of Lamp Incubators and Supplies. 

Bone Mills. 



The above book should be in every family in America who keeps poultry. It 
is very interesting and instructing and contains much valuable information that 
you can get from no other soarce. It is written by an experienced poultryman who 
knows what he is talking about. 



Address, 



PRICE 30 CENTS. Stamps taken. 

R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 



CHICAGO, ILL. 




Treatise 



ON THE 



Game Cock 



Breeding 1 , Rearing, Training, Feeding, Trimming, Heeling, 
Handling, Diseases and their Treatment, Gaffs, &c. 

TOGETHER WITH 

T^TTT.Tifii OF TX3E3E I»XT. 

3 CONTENTS. 

Preparing for Exhibition 13 

Preparing for the Pit 14 

GaffsorSpurs 17 

Trimming.... 22 

Heeling 22 

Handling 23 

Rules of the Pit 24 

Diseases and their Cure 3! 



Selection of Breede?:: , 5 

Care of Breeders f> 

Breeding In and In „ 6 

Breeding to Feather 8 

Breeding for the Pit 9 

Rearing 10 

Dubbing 11 

How to Keep Order - 12 

Walks 13 

PRICE 23 CENTS 
Address 



L B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 



CHICAGO, ILL. 



THE PRACTICAL 

POULTRY KEEPER 



A COMPLETE AND STANDARD GUIDE TO 

THE MANAGEMENT OF POULTRY, 

FOR DOMESTIC USE, THE MARKETS OR EXHIBITION 

BEAUTIPUI>I>Y ILLUSTRATED. 

BY L. WRIGHT. 



COITTEITTS. 



SECTION I— The General Manage- 
ment of Domestic Poultry with, a 
View to Profit. 

Chap. I— Houses and Runs ; and the Ap- 
pliances necessary to keeping Poultry 
with Success. 

Chap. II— On the System of Operations 
and the Selection of Stock. 

Chap. Ill— The Feeding and General Man- 
agement of Adult Fowls. 

Chap. IV— Incubation 

Chap. V— The Rearing and Fattening of 
Chickens. 

Chap. VI— Diseases of Poultry. 

SECTION II— The Breeding: and Ex- 
hibition of Prize Poultry. 

Chap. VII— Yards and Accommodation 
adapted for Breeding Prize Poultry. 

Chap. VIII— On the Scientific Principles 
of Breeding, and the Effects of Crossing. 

Chap. IX— On the Practical Selection and 
Care of Breeding Stock, and the Rearing 
of Chickens for Exhibition. 

Chap. X— On "Condition," and the Pre- 
paration of Fowls for Exhibition: and 
various other matters connected with 
Shows. 

SECTION III— Different Breeds of 
Fowls ; Their Characteristic Points, 
with Comparison of their Merits 
and Principal Defects. 



Chap. XI.— Cochin Chinas or Shanghaea 

Chap. XII— Brahma Pootras. 

Chap. XIII— Malays. 

Chap. XIV— Game. 

Chap. XV— Dorkings 

Chap. XVI— Spanish. 

Chap. XVII — Hamburgs. 

Chap. XVIII— Polands. 

Chap. XIX— French Breeds. 

Chap. XX— Bantams. 

Chap. XXI— The "Various'" Class. 

SECTION IV— Turkeys, Ornamental 
Poultry, and Water-Fowl. 

Chap. XXII— Turkeys, Guinea-fowl, Pea^ 
fowl. 

Chap. XXIII— Pheasants. 

Chap. XXIV-Water-fowl. 

SECTION V— The Hatching- & Bear- 
ing: of Chickens Artificially. 

Chap. XXV— The Incubator and Its Man- 
agement. 

Chap. XXVI— Rearing Chickens Artifici- 
ally. 

SECTION VI— The Breeding- & Man- 
agement of Poultry upon a larg-e 
scale. 

Chap. XXVII— Separate Establishments 
for Rearing Poultry. Poultry on the 
Farm, Conclusion. 



PRICE, POSTPAID, $2.00. 

3. MITCHEL 

PUBLISHER, CHICAGQ, 



MITCHELL'S MATERIAL FOR THE POULTRY-YARD. 



GROUND AND CRUSHED OYSTER SHELLS. 

10- lb. packages, per lb 5c 50- lb. packages, per lb ___ 4c 

25- Bb " " 4i£c I 100- lb " " ___.3c 

BONE-MEAL, 



10- lb. packages, per Tb 6c 

25-Ib " '• _5c 



50- lb packages, per lb 4^c 

100-Ib «■ " 4c 



TAR-FELT PAPER. 

Put up in rolls of from 250 to 350 square feet, according to thickness. 
Price, per roll $2.00 

GALVANIZED-WIRE NETTING, 

In rolls 150 feet in length and from 1 to 6 feet in width. 

Price per 100 square feet, in full rolls r „75c 

" " square foot, when rolls are cut .'. l£c 

RUSSIAN SUNFLOWER SEED, 

Package, by mail, prepaid „_.._ _ _ __25c 

EGG BASKETS. 

T- pack one or two sittings, per dozen $0 90 

* three to five " " __ i 00 

POULTRY BOOKS, 

Any Book on Poultry mailed on receipt of publishers' price, 

POULTRY JELLY. 

Cures Scaly Legs and Frozen Combs. 
Put up in tin cans. Price, per can 50c 

JAPANESE EGG TESTERS, 

Each ___- _ 50 C 

Address — 

R. B. MITCHELL, 

PUBLISHER, 

CHICAGO, ILL 



profit? of P^aiging Broiled for 1 Marvel, 



The business of raising broilers for market is a very profitable one 
Parties in Massachusetts, who raise thousands annually, find sale for them 
on an average of $1.00 each. One man who had been earning from $8 to 
$10 a week at his trade took the chicken fever, bought an Incubator and 
raised 1200 his first season. This spring a Boston merchant wanted a 
good practical poultry keeper to take charge of a chicken farm. He 
offered this man $1,000 per year. But the man declined, saying he could 
get $1,000 for the chickens he could raise in five months, and have the 
other seven months of the year left free for him to work at his trade . 
When I saw him he had 1500 chicks for which he was offered 35 cents per 
pound, cash. Says C. J. Quinby in the Poultry Bulletin: "Any one can 
with a 100 egg incubator and a brooder raise 350 or 400 chicks for market 
in the five months, which at $1.00 each would add not a little to their in- 
come, and not interfere with other business." 

There is an enormous demand for incubators in this country and 
Europe, and hundreds of people are turning their attention to the poultry 
business as a means of getting a good living; but a person on entering 
this business should carefully select the proper kind of appliances to us, 
or he will never succeed. The business is very profitable, and being easy 
to manage and light work, is adapted for women as well as men and 
oftentimes they succeed even better. The cost of raising the chicks is 
very small compared with the high prices they always command in the 
spring. This can easily be proven by actual experiment, and an extract 
from the Farm and Garden says that chicks can bo raised at the cost of 
only four cents per pound. 

FOF FIVE CENTS 

f will send instructions How to Raise Broilers for 15 cents 

each and where to sell them for 60 cents. 
Address, R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, Chicago. 



mpp ,, , 

-* POULTRY =- 

CHUM, 

2 5 CENTS PER YEAR, MONTHLY . 

A beautiful book by 

will be sent free to every person who sends us 
25 cents for one year's subscription for the 

POULTRY CHUM, 

viz:- Practical Turkey Raising, 25 cents. The 
Chum one year, and Turkey book, both for 25 
cents, post paid 

HDDRESS, 

R. B. MITGHRL>L», Publisher, 

CHICAGO, * * * ILLINOIS. 



POULTRY CHUM. 

GIiUBBINGc LIST. 

o Price with 

Price Poultry and 

per Pet Stock 

Year. Raiser 

$100 American Bee Journal Weekly $110 

50 American Farmer and Poultry Raiser Monthly 60 

100 American Poultry Journal Monthly 100 

50 Babyland Monthly 60 

150 Chicago Tribune Weekly 160 

100 ChicagoTimes Weekly 1(0 

1C0 Chicago Inter Ocean Weekly 1 00 

100 ChicagoNews ...Weekly 100 

100 Coleman s Rural World Weekly 100 

2 50 Country Gentleman .... Weekly 2 50 

2 00 Demorest's Illustrated Monthly 2 00 

100 Detroit Free Press Weekly 3 00 

1 00 , Drainage and Farm Journal Monthly 100 

25 Farm Journal Monthly 45 

1 00 Farm. Field and Stockman . . .... Weekly 1 00 

1 10 Farm Field a> d Stockman, with Seed Premium Weekly 1 10 

50 Farm and Fireside - Semi -Monthly 60 

50 Farm and Home Semi-Monthly 60 

2 25 Frank Leslie's Budget ... .... Monthly 2 25 

125 Farmers' Review .... Weekly 125 

100 Fancier's Gazette ....: Monthly 1C0 

60 Green's Fruit Grower .... Quarterly 60 

loo Gleanings in Bee Cul ure Semi-Monthly 100 

2 00 Godey's Lady's Book Monthly 2 00 

250 Good Housekeeping Bi-Weekly 2 50 

2 00 Harpers Young People ... . •••• • -Weekly 2 0U 

100 Housekeeper Semi-Monthly 100 

110 Indiana Farmer W r ee K ly HS 

1 00 Kansas Farmer Weekly 100 

5') Ladies' Home Journal M on M y „ ^ 

1 00 Maryland Farmer ^rlv } °J 

100 Michigan Farmer - Weekly 100 

1 00 New York Sun Weekly } °° 

100 New York World ■•■ Weekly 100 

150 National Stockman and Farmer W T ee ?i y H2 

100 Orange Judd Farmer • S ee N y I 22 

100 Ohio Farmer , We ?S y * ?« 

,60 Orchard and Garden ^ on ^N Y ,S 

100 Our Little Men and Women ] ^? nt £i y 122 

100 Prairie Farmer W r ee ^ y 122 

1 00 Practical Farmer ™ ee $ y 122 

200 Rural New Yorker „ We ftl y ? 22 

i CO Southern Cultivator • • • • ; -Monthly 1 99. 

lfO Texas Farm and Ranch Semi-Monthly lto 

100 Toledo Blade W , ee H y 122 

TOO Toronto Globe J^S 7 - } 2? 

1 25 Vick s Magazine . . ^ nt lSl JS 

1 50 Western Rural and American Stockman Weekly i so 

In addition to the above we can furnish you any paper in 
the United States. Address, 

R. B, MITCHELL, 

Publisher, CHICAGO, 



Full directions with drawings how to make Hens' Nests 
so the Fowls will not eat their Eggs. 

Price 25 Cents. 

ADDRESS 

R. B. MITCHELL, 

Publisher, CHICAGO. 

WILSON'S PATENT GRINDING MILLS. 

For the Poultryman. For the Farmer. For the Gardener. 
No. 1. HAND BONE MILL, for grinding Dried Bones, 
Oyster Shells and all kinds of Grain. 
Price, weight 35 lbs., - - - - $5.00. 

POULTRY SUPPLIES. 






To keep fowls at all times in the best condition, you need some of the following 
articles, which are kept for sale by Thb Poultry Raiser Company, and promptly for- 
warded on receipt of price. All orders must be accompanied by the cash. If you order 
goods sent by freight, enclose 50 cents to pay cartage, otherwise they will be sent by 
express. We prepay charges on all mailable goods. Heavy articles by express unless 
ordered by freight. 

CRUSHED OYSTER SHELLS 
made from clean, fresh oyster shells, and is as good as can be produced. Twenty-five ft 
$1; 50 ft $1.75; 100 ft $2.50. If to go by freight, add 50 cents to pay cartage. 

RAW BONE MEAL, 
made from selected bones, and is very helpful to young as well as to old fowls, as it fur- 
nishes the material that nature requires as an aid to growth, and thus gives strength and 
stability to the skeleton of the bird, while it reduces the percentage of weak chicks. It 
should be mixed with the meal used in proportion of a tablespoonful to twenty fowls. 
10 ft 60 cts; 15 ft 90 cts; 25 ft $1.25; 50 ft $2; 100 ft $4. 
TAR FELT PAPER. 

This is the best article known for roofs and lining poultry-houses. It prevents ver- 
min and helps to make the fowls healthy : it increases the warmth of the house and pre- 
vents dampness. Put up in rolls of from 250 to 350 square feet, according to thickness. 
Price, $2 per roll. 

POULTRY JELLY. 

This is a preparation we have found to be a sure cure, if used in time, for scaly legs 
and frozen comb, and the articles that enter into its composition make it more efficient 
than the ordinary remedies. Price 50c, 

ROUP PILLS. 

If obstinate cases of roup appear among your fowls, these pills are what you wan^ 
and will cure in nearly all cases where cleanliness and care are observed. Fifty pills in 
a box, 50 cts ; 100 pills, 75 cts. 

NEST EGGS. I EGG BASKETS. 

Sulphur carbolated, - 75c per dozen One or two sittings, - 90c per dozen 
Porcelain, - 60c per dozen | Three to five sittings, - 1.00 per dozen 

Wilson's hand bone mills, $5. If to be sent as freight, add 50 cents for cartage. 

TESTED THERMOMETERS for incubators, every one being tested before sent out. 
If you want a reliable thermometer, one on which you can depend, mail us one dollar 
and it will be mailed to you postage prepaid. 

CAPONIZING INSTRUMENTS— A fine set in a neat case for $4.00 

EGG TESTER^-The Japanese Egg Tester mailed to any address on receipt of price, 
feO oftntft 



JAPANESE 'EGG-TESTER. 





To test the egg, hold it before the opening, 
with the thumb and forefinger on opposite 
sides, to allow the light to pass freely, as shown 
in the cut. Look through the egg at the sun 
or a bright light. Turn it frequently Il'the 
egg is fertile, you will see, on the fourth or 
fifth day, a formation similar to that shown 
- in the accompanying cut, which is the first 
appearance of the chick. 

Price of Egg-Tester 50c. 



THE 



AMERICAN 

itandard of IxcllenGe. 

Everybody who keeps poultry should have this book. It 
describes everg variety of fowls in detail, and it is indisnen- 
sable to those who wish to learn the business. It teaches you 
how to mate and score fov/ls for the show room, etc. 



Address— 



f&,*> 



PRICE, Sl.OO. 



* PUBLISHER, ¥f 



CHICAGO, 



ILL. 



AN ILLUSTEATED MONTHLY FOE EVERYBODY. 



issued &£ Chicago, III, on the 15th of each Month. 

Subscription Terms. SO cents per year. 



ADYEETISING BATES. 

Single insertion, 20 cents per line. 
Three or more insertions, 17% cents per line 
Six or more insertions, 15 cents per line 
Twelve or more insertions, 12 cents per line. 



DISCOUNTS. 

On contracts $15 and over 5 per cent 
On contracts $25 and over 10 per cent 
On contracts $50 and over 15 per cent 
On contracts $100 and over 25 per cent 
The agate line, 14 lines to the inch, 
is the basis of measurement, j 



2 BEAUTIFUL BOOKS AMD HOW TO CAPONIZB, 

We will send FREE to every person who sends fifty cents for one 
year's subscription to The Amebioan Faemee and Poultby Ratseb two 
invaluable books on poultry raising, and how to caponize viz: 

Poultry for Profit and Poultry for Market Price 25 cents, 
Practical Turkey Raising " 25 " 

How to Caponize " 10 " 

These three sent free and postpaid to every one subscribing to this 
paper for one year. 

NO POUtTRY RfliSER CA3 AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT THEM 

SUMMIT LAWN POULTRY BOOK. 

A most excellent work on poultry raising illustrated, and one that 
should be in the hands of every breeder of poultry, complete in two 
volumes of 100 pages each. Two hundred pages of invaluable reading 
sent free and postpaid to every person sending 50 cents for one year's 
subscription to The Amebioan Fabmeb and Pouxtbv Raises for one year* 

Atfraa, E, B, MITCHELL, Agent, €Mcafo ? III, 



"TABLE QUEEN" 

The "Table Queen" Tomato is the largest and heaviest 
smooth Tomato ever offered, being as large as the Mikado, 
but perfectly smooth and round. 

For slicing it is the Tomato "Par excellence" as it is 
wonderfully solid, and contains comparatively few seeds; 
the color of the "Table Queen" is a rich shade of crimson, 
and of a most agreeable acid flavor. This will doubtless 
prove to be the most satisfactory Tomato, for private gardens 
that has been sent out in many years. Price per packet 20c, 

address E. B. MITCELL, 69 Dearborn St., CHICAGO. 

Peai)Ufc EarliJ SWeel, 

CHILDREN NOW IS YOUR TIME. 

ORDER AT ONCE, 

This most excellent Peanut is so early it can be grown in 
any State or in Canada; With us it ripens in August and 
produces a good crop; The nuts are small, very compact and 
heavy with thin shell, and of the sweetest and most delicious 
quality ; Greatly superior to the larger and coarser ones. It 
makes but little, top and plants can stand 3 to 4 inches apart 
in drills. It is a most interesting plant to grow North 
where peanut culture is unknown, and will prove a feature 
of particular interest to the children of the family. A light 
Sandy Soil is best adopted to its growth Packe = 1C 'cents. 
R. B. MITCHELL, 69 Dearborn St., CHICAGO. 



WIL.SONS' 



Winter Pine-We musing, 

THE MOST VALUABLE NOVELTY OF THE 

tfiWETEErtTrt CENTURY, 

DELICIOUS MITSKMELONS ALL WINTER. 

Aside from its great productiveness and superior quality, the most 
valuable recommendation this new melon has is its remarkable keeping" 
Qualities. They do not ripen on the vines like other melons, but must 
be picked before hard frost, carefully laid away in a dry cool room or 
cellar, where there is no danger of freezing. When wanted for use bring 
them into a warm room, where they will ripen up and be ready to eat in a 
few days. We have abundant testimony to show that the Winter Pine- 
Apple Muskmelon has been kept solid, sweet and delicious in this way 
until March and April, retaining their spicy and delicious taste equal to 
or better than any of the common muskmelons pulled fresh from the 
vines in Summer; even after they have been cut for several days, their 
pleasant and agreeable flavor will fill a whole room with the most delight- 
ful fragrance. 25 cents per packet, postage free. Address, 
R. B. MITCHELL, 69 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO. 

NEW CHRISTMAS WATERMELON, 

This new watermelon is said to be entirely distinct from any other 
known variety. The Christmas Watermelon's valuable keeping qualities 
are due to a peculiar hard, tenacious coating or outside enameling of the 
skin. This hard coating also gives them a very handsome and fresh ap- 
pearance after being picked. The flesh is a beautiful rich scarlet color, 
very solid and deliciously sugary and refreshing. The seeds are quite small 
and a dull white color. They grow to a good size, very uniform in shape 
and are very productive. Their keeping and shipping properties are 
superior to any other variety. The originator further says, since 
the original melon was first discovered in 1884, we have each year enjoyed 
one of these melons both for a Christmas and New Year's dinner, which 
after being kept in our cellar for 3 months, were cut open as fresh, sweet 
and delicious as when picked from the vines. 10c per packet, postage 
free. Address, R. B. MITCHELL, 

69 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO. 




THE LARGEST OF ALL 

GIANT OF COLORADO, 

GROW TO WEIGH 40 POUNDS. 

The seed of the Giant of Colorado Muskmelon was first 
discovered three years ago by one of our representatives while 
traveling in Colorado; the grower claimed that he had frequent- 
ly grown them to weigh fifty pounds and over, and owing to 
their delicious flavor and quality were quite noted and 
much sought after in Denver and other home markets. We 
have found these claims fully substantiated, and can honestly 
recommend them as the largest and most showy of all 
muskmelons. Several customers to whom we sent the seed the 
last two seasons report weights of from forty to fifty pounds 
and many first premiums at State and County Fairs. They 
are well suited to heavy soils, and grow uniformly as large as 
good-sized watermelons. The flesh is green, melting and sug- 
ary, handsome shape and appearance— as an exhibition variety 
they are unequaled. [f you want to astonish everybody, in- 
clude a packet of Colorado Giant in your order. 

ZPJLOiKIIElT 250. 

ADDRESS.^ 

R. B. MITCHELL, 

69 Dearborn Street, CHICAGO. 



MUMMY >- coi^isf 



The kernels from which this remarkable variety originated 
were removed from the body of a mummy by a prominent 
citizen of Oharlestown Mass., while on a visit to Egypt several 
years since, and the stock has remained in the family from 
that date, who, on account - of its superior qualities, have 
abandoned the cultivation of all other kinds. The kernels ■ are 
large, plump and deep, thereby reducing the shell or hull so 
prominent in most varieties to a minimum. The ears, in many 
instances, having sixteen to twenty-two rows. Although not 
claimed as the earliest, it should class in that section — the ears 
being the largest of the several early kinds and distinct from 
all varieties now in cultivation. Tt has been my good fortune 
to this season obtain the exclusive control of the stock, which 
is limited. I, therefore, take great pleasure in introducing it 
to your notice, feeling confident it will merit and receive the 
approval of all who give it a trial, and that they will coincide 
with those who have tested its splendid qualities in pronounc- 
ing it the most delicious,' meaty and sweetest of all corns it has 
ever been their good fortune to possess. 

25 cents per Packet, postage free. 
R. B. MITGHELL, 

69 Dearborn St., CHICAGO. 




R. B. MITCHELL'S 




PRICE LIST 



¥ 



>@WMTMi a»» MG&S 



POULTRY SUPPLIES. 



I can also purchase for you anything you want in any line of goods what- 
ever, at lowest prices. 



"n writing inclose 2 cent stamp to insure reply. If goods are ordered no 
stamp need be sent. 



» 



189-1 




World's Fair Insect 
POWDER, 

Sure death to all Vermin in the Poultry House. 
PRICE 25 CTS. 

PER PACKAGE. 





HEALTH IN THE POULTRY YARD, 



J^lSTJy 



HOW TO CURE SICK FOWLS 



BY 



FANNY FIELD. 

FANNY FIELD is acknowledged the world over as 
the best authority on Poultry and Poultry Raising. She 
goes into her yards in person, and thereby gains the 
exact knowledge which everyone ought to have in order 
to raise Poultry successfully. Read the contents of 
her book and then order at once. 



PRICE, - - 30 CENTS. 



ADDRESS, 

R. B. MITCHELL, Publisher, 

CHICAGO, - - ILLINOIS. 



CONTENTS. 



Apoplexy . ; .... 26 

JJlack Rot 27 

Breaking Sitting Hens . . . . , m 2 g 

Bronchitis • ••••..«... 2 6 

Bumble Foot . 2 - 

Break Down ............ 24 

Causes of Disease Among Poultry ..... c 

Cholera " a 

Chills ' . 21 

Cramp 2I 

Cough 2I 

Canker •••••••..... 22 

Constipation 22 

Crop Bound 23 

Chicken Pox . . . . . . . . . , .25 

Consumption 2 C 

Concerning the Cure of Poultry Diseases ....... q 

Chiggers '29 

Diarrhoea 22 

Dysentery 23 

Diseases of Turkeys 29 

Diseases of Ducks -p 

Douglass Mixture . . .30 

Egg Bound . . . < 24 

Eggs Broken in Oviduct . . 24 

Egg Eating 29 

Eggs, Soft-shelled 24 

Frost Bites 27 

Feather Eating . . .28 

Gapes 17 

Handy to Have 30 

How to Prevent Disease . . 6 

Itch r . • 27 

Injuries ....-.' 28 

Lice 15 

Inflammation of Oviduct . ;, 24 

Lameness 25 

Liver Disease ........... 26 

Leg Weakness 18 

Leg Weakness in Old Fowls .......... 20 

Moulting 28 

Obscure Diseases of Chicks , 27 

Paralysis of the Legs ........... 20 

Roup 13 

Rheumatism ............ 25 

Scaly Legs 20 

Sore Eyes 23 

White Comb 27 

Worms 28 

Whitewash ....... » ... . 8 



The King ©f Breeders, 

A Brooder is as necessary to bring up your young chicks as an Incu- 
bator is to hatch them. Healthy young chicks are smart, active little 
creatures, and very much like to help themselves. As soon as they are 
twelve hours old they will commence to pick and thrive and grow if 
brought up in a first-class Brooder faster than as though they run with 
the hen. 

Young Chicks require a temperature of ninety degrees in order for 
them to thrive and keep in health. Give them this temperature and 
plenty to eat and drink and they are the happiest little things you ever 
saw. If young chicks once get chilled it is almost sure death to them. 
The King of Brooders is just what you want for their Health, Comfort and 
growth. 

The Water Tank in this Brooder serves the same purpose for chicks as a 
stove does in our parlors to keep ourselves warm, and the chicks soon 
learn to draw near to or retreat from as their instincts demands. 

If a Brooder is so constructed that the chicks can huddle or crowd 
together you will surely lose them. The lack of warmth is what causes 
them to huddle. 

This Brooder is so arranged that the chicks cannot huddle; the heat 
surface being so great and evenly distributed that they have no desire to 
gather in groups, but will lay flat down on the bottom of the Brooder and 
sleep like a child. 

The King of Brooders is the lowest priced of any one on the market, 
and in fact the price is so low as to leave very little margin for the man- 
ufacturer. 

On the top of this Brooder is a large pane of glass which gives plenty 
of light, while at the same time you can see every chick in the Brooder 
without opening it. This Brooder contains a hot water tank, and is 
heated by a kerosene lamp beneath. 

It is so arranged that the chicks can seek the temperature they most 
desire. If they are too warm they will retreat from the tank, and if not 
warm enough they will come near it. We have brought up chicks in this 
Brooder and not lose four in a hundred. We simply ask can hens do as 
well as this. 

Price for 100 Chick Brooder $7.00 

" « 200 " " 10.00 

Send in your orders early as we shall be able to supply a limited 
number only in connection with our large business in Poultry Supplies 
of all kinds. 

Address, R B . MITCHELL, 

Poultry Supplies, 

CHICAGO, ILL- 



Cholera is the worst Enemy the Poultryman has to 
contend with. 

OUR CHOLERA MEDICINE 

Has now been before the public over five years and has 

gained a reputation worthy of it. During 1888 we 

have sent it all over the country, and we are 

constantly receiving; letters speaking in the 

highest terms of its curative qualities, 

and saving their flocks from the 

ravages of this fatal disease. 

Prices.— In, 2-lb packages, express prepaid, per lb 50c. In 5-lb packages, prepaid 
per lt> 45c. In 10-Ib packages, prepaid, per lt> 40c. 

B. B. Mitchell, Watbktown, Dak. 

Bear Sir: Your fowl cholera medicine does just what we got it for— it stop- 
ped the cholera. I had forty- seven hens down with the cholera when the medicine 
arrived. After the first dose I have not lost a chicken from the cholera. I had lost 
forty-two at the rate of six or eight per day, until I got your medicine. I shall not 
be without it next year. Yours truly 

C. A. BARTLETT. 



Tuscola, Ills. 
B. B. Mitchell, 

Bear Sir: Your card at hand asking how I like your cholera medicine. I can 
readily reply that I like your Cholera Preventive and Cure very much, and do not 
expect to be without it. Respeotfully yours, 

NEWTON M. EVANS. 



Office of the District Attorney, 
"Woodbuey, Gloucester Co., N. J. 
B. B. Mitchell, 

Bear Sir: Your Poultry Powder proved a good thing to me in keeping my im- 
ported Silver Sebright and Pekin Bantams in healthy trim. I believe it is a valu- 
able remedy. Yours truly, 

B. PERRY. 



Beacon Iowa. 
B. B. Mitchell, 

Bear Sir: I received a card from you asking how I liked the Poultry Cholera 
Preventive and Cure I bought of you. I can say that it is what you recommend 
it to be. Respectfully yours, 

JAMES PLUM. 



Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. 
B. B. Mitchell, 

Bear Sir: Enclosed find $1.00 for which please send me one two- pound pack- 
age Cholera Cure. Please send at once, if possible. Yours, etc , 

O. F. GRIFFITH. 
P. S —I used the package sent me and find it just the thing. Several of my hens 
were quite sick; after first dose improved at once; shall soon send for ten-pound 
package. O. F. G. 

Towanda, Kas. 
B. B. Mitchell, 

Bear Sir: Please send me one dollar's worth of your Cholera Cure. My fowls 
have it again. They had it last fall. I sent and got a dollar's worth of your medi- 
cine, which have been of many dollar's value to me. Not another one died after the 
first dose given I would not do without it for anything. From my experience I 
say it is a most effectual cure. I will give my testimony, and so will some of my 
neignbors who have used it. Chicken Cholera prevails very extensively here, and I 
»m sure you could sell many dollar's worth if it were only known. 

Yours Respectfully, 

M. E. STEARNS. 

Address, R. 8 MITCHELL, Publisher CHICAGO. 



POCKET SAVINGS BANK 



PRICE 25c. POSTAGE PREPAID. 



Just the nicest little thing you ever saw to save your 
dimes. Made to carry in your pocket. When you get a 
dime just slip it in your bank, and you can not get it out until 
your bank is full. It holds just fifty dimes, or $5.00. Every 
boy and girl should have one, for with one of these dime 
savers you can not help but be rich. 



Young beginners in life's morning, 

Don't forget the rainy day; 
Sunshine can not last forever, 

Or the heart be always gay. 
Save the dime and then the dollar, 

Lay up something as yon roam — 
Choose some blooming spot of beauty, 

Some fair lot, and " plant a home." 



ADDRESS 



E. B. MITCHELL, 

PUBLISHER, CHICAGO. 



IMPROVED INCUBATOR, 




WITH THERMOMETER AND EVERYTHING READY FOR USE. 

100 Eggs Capacity $20. 00 

200 ' ' $ 2600 

300 $ 3800 

Full Directions for setting up and operating accompany each 



niachint 



What parties say who are using this machine, 

Dear Sir:— Our trial hatch this vear was 180 chicks out of 

;tweg^N E F- It. A. BARNES & SON. 

Dear Sir: My wife has fiist got 108 tine chicks out of 117 
l&m'Ind: H.A.WILSON. 

Dear Sir: —Your machine is a success, my best hatch was 
90 per cent. WAAna - 

Pecksburg, Ind N. E. WOODS. 

Dear Sir: -I have just hatched 114 chicks from 120 fertile 
(uj-u-s with your machine. 
\\Wk.N. Y. W..T.MCCALLUM. 

Dear Sir: We brought out .100 chicks out of 103 fertile 
rs, with your Improved Incubator n ___ 

Parkville British Colunibia. NELSON PARKES. 

I could add 100 more certificates but our limited space will 
not permit, Send money by Post office, or express order, or 
bank draft on Chicagc 



o. 
Address. 



R. B. Mitchell, 

Poultry Supplies, 

CHICAGO 



